1. Africanized Honey Bees Apis mellifera scutellata Ellis, Ellis, and Hodges. October 2006. NPDN Publication No. 0002

2. Africanized Honey Bees Introduction Description Life Cycle Hosts Risks Control Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service http://www.insectimages.org/

3. Introduction Honey bees provide: –Crop pollination - $20 Billion (1/3 world’s food supply depends on honey bee pollination) –Hive Products Bees Honey Wax Propolis Pollen Photo:David Cappaert http://www.insectimages.org/

4. Honey Bee Subspecies (or races of Apis mellifera) –European honey bee races are used traditionally by beekeepers in the US and throughout the world –African honey bee races are used primarily in Africa Introduction Special thanks to Johomaps.com http://www.johomaps.com/as/maps.html

5. In 1956, one African honey bee race, Apis mellifera scutellata, was introduced accidentally to Brazil in an effort to increase honey production in Brazil. The African bee hybridized with European bee races already present in Brazil, hence the term African- ‘ized’ honey bees. Introduction Special thanks to Johomaps.com http://www.johomaps.com/as/maps.html

6. Introduction AHB spread to the US through South and Central America by 1990 As of 2006, AHB has become established in LA, AR, AL,TX, CA, NM, AZ, NV, OK, and FL Map by Kim Kaplan, U.S. Department of Agriculture http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid =11059&page=6

7. Description 3 main body parts –Head –Thorax 2 pairs of wings 3 pairs of legs –Abdomen Brownish-orange with black stripes Photos: David Cappaert http://www.insectimages.org/

8. Commonly confused with wasps, flies, or other bees that have similar body shape and coloration Description Photo: Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service http://www.insectimages.org/ Southern Yellowjacket Sweat Bee Bombyliid Fly Photo: David Cappaert http://www.insectimages.org/ Photo: Susan Ellis, www.insectimages.org

9. Honey bees have a caste system –Worker (10-15 mm) Female, performs everyday tasks of the colony –Queen (18-20 mm) Female, specialized for egg production –Drone (15-17 mm) Male, sole purpose to mate with queen Description Photo: Carl Dennis, Auburn University http://www.insectimages.org Photo: David Cappaert http://www.insectimages.org/

10. Description Africanized Honey Bee Identification African bees cannot be distinguished from European bees by sight Must use: -Morphometric Analysis (measurements of various body parts) -Genetic Analysis Photo: Walker, K. (2006) Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) Pest and Diseases Image Library. Updated on 2/02/2006 1:51:37 PM. Available online: http://www.padil.gov.au

11. Africanized Honey Bee Behavior –Highly defensive around their nesting site –Swarm in greater frequency than European bees 10+ times per year –Tendency to abscond or completely abandon the nest when faced with a threat Description Photo: G. Keith Douce, The University of Georgia http://www.insectimages.org

12. Life Cycle Four Stages: Egg Larva PupaAdult Developmental Time (days from egg to adult): Queen Cell Photo: Carl Dennis, Auburn University http://www.insectimages.org European bees African bees Queen1614 Worker2119-20 Drone24

13. Hosts Honey bees are generalists and forage on many flowering plants, although some plants are more attractive than others. Photo: Russ Ottens, The University of Georgia http://www.insectimages.org/ Photo: John A. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University http://www.insectimages.org/ Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service http://www.insectimages.org/ Blueberry Millet Wild Flower

14. Africanized Honey Bee Nesting Habits –They will nest in smaller spaces than European honey bees –Have been found in Water meter boxes, Cement blocks, Old tires, House eaves, Abandoned vehicles, Trees, Garages, Outbuildings, Sheds, Walls, Chimneys, Playground equipment, Empty containers, Places and objects with holes, Fences, Lumber piles, Manholes, Water meters, Utility infrastructures, Almost Any Abandoned Structure Hosts Photos: Timothy Haley, USDA Forest Service http://www.insectimages.org

15. Risks Africanized Honey Bee/Human Conflicts Occur –Due to enhanced defensive behavior –Due to selection of nesting sites –Due to agitation by power equipment Farmers, children, and elders are at the highest risk of attack Tied or enclosed pets are the most common victims Photo: USDA APHIS PPQ Archives, USDA APHIS http://www.ipmimages.org

16. How to avoid or prepare for an attack: Walk away and stay away if you see a swarm/nest or unusual bee activity. Teach children to use caution and respect all bees and other insects. Obtain bee sting treatment kits. If a nest is found, contact your local cooperative extension service or State Department of Agriculture immediately. (Advice from the Florida Department of Agriculture, D.P.I.) Photo: Carl Dennis, Auburn University http://www.insectimages.org

17. If an attack occurs: Run away in a straight line Running through tall grass or small trees will help reduce the attack DO NOT STAND AND SWAT AT BEES! RUN! Cover your face and eyes Get into a car, house, or other shelter and stay there Do not jump into water. The bees will wait for you at the surface! If stung, remove stinger quickly by scraping it out, not pulling it out If breathing is affected, seek medical attention immediately (Advice from the Florida Department of Agriculture, D.P.I.)

18. Control Create a safe environment –Eliminate possible nesting sites by removing any unnecessary “junk” from the area –Close off gaps in structures/trees that are more than 1/8” –Inspect property/structures regularly for unusual bee activity If a nest is found, immediately contact your local cooperative extension service or state department of agriculture for a list of pest control operators or advice. Trap used for monitoring feral swarms of Africanized honey bees. Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service http://www.insectimages.org

19. Questions Regarding Africanized Honeybees? Contact your state’s cooperative extension service http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/part ners/state_partners.html http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/part ners/state_partners.html Contact your state department of agriculture: http://nationalplantboard.org/member/i ndex.htm http://nationalplantboard.org/member/i ndex.htm

20. Additional Information Websites: Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. African Honey Bee. http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/ahb.html http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/ahb.html Honey Bee Research and Information at the University of California, Riverside http://bees.ucr.edu/index.htmlhttp://bees.ucr.edu/index.html USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center. Africanized honey bees. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059 http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059 USDA National Invasive Species Information Center. Africanized honey bees. http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/afrhonbee.shtmlhttp://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/afrhonbee.shtml Global Invasive Species Database. Apis mellifera scutellata. http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=325&fr=1&sts= http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=325&fr=1&sts

21. Books: Caron, D. M. 2001. Africanized Honey Bees in the Americas. The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio. Graham, J. M., ed. 1992. The Hive and the Honey Bee. Dadant & Sons, Hamilton, Illinois. Winston, M. L. 1987. The Biology of the Honey Bee. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Additional Information Photo: Carl Dennis, Auburn University http://www.insectimages.org

22. Acknowledgments Editorial Review Jerry Hayes, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Chief of Apiary Inspection Dr. Dale Pollet, Professor of Entomology, Louisiana State University

23. Authors Amanda M. Ellis, ellisam@ufl.edu,ellisam@ufl.edu University of Florida, SPDN James D. Ellis, Ph.D., jdellis@ufl.edujdellis@ufl.edu Assistant Professor, University of Florida Amanda C. Hodges, Ph.D., achodges@ufl.eduachodges@ufl.edu SPDN Assistant Director, University of Florida

24. Publication Details This publication can be used for non-profit, educational use only purposes. Photographers retain copyright to photographs or other images contained in this publication as cited. This material was developed as a topic-based training module for NPDN First Detector Training. Authors and the website should be properly cited. Images or photographs should also be properly cited and credited to the original source. Publication Number: 0002 Publication Date: October 2006