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Africanized Honey Bees Confirmed in Alabama as Arizona Hive Populations Surge

Officials have intensified monitoring to ensure safe removal of aggressive colonies newly detected in southern states.

A member of Melissodes species up close.
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FILE - Africanized bees AKA "killer bees" present a potential danger to Americans, including those in Georgia.

Overview

  • Confirmed detections in Jackson and St. Clair counties prompted euthanization of wild swarms and deployment of traps within a five-mile radius to track further spread.
  • Bee removal specialists report that Arizona’s hive populations have swelled to some 300,000 bees per colony following this season’s monsoon blooms.
  • Africanized honey bees defend their nests with extreme aggression, chasing perceived threats for up to a mile and causing hospitalizations and fatalities in multiple states.
  • Visual similarity to European honey bees means that only expert genetic or morphological analysis can reliably distinguish Africanized colonies.
  • Researchers note that the bees’ heightened disease resistance and genetic diversity could benefit broader honey bee health if managed carefully.