Robyn Glassner

Writing Phase 2, NATS 101 Section 41

March 28, 2002

What “Killer Bees”?

Ever since the arrival of Africanized bees in South America, North America has gone crazy over the bee’s eventual arrival and impact. There are many reasons why we should be concerned by the arrival of the Africanized bee, or Killer bee as the media puts it. Such concerns include the impact on the honey business, what this means for our economy, and the rise in reports of bee stings. But are these bees really that threatening? After researching what has been written about Killer bees, I must conclude that their threat is not as high as we may think it is.

First, African bees have the potential to be high honey producers. In the 1950’s, South American scientists wanted to start bee farms in central South America. While at first they looked at introducing the European bee of North America into the tropical climate of South America, they knew this plan would not work because the tropical climate would be too much for the European bees to handle. The scientists decided it would be best to use the African bees. The only problem was their horrible nature to attack. In order to offset their horrible stings, the scientists wanted to breed the European bee with the African bees (Winston 9-11). If the scientists could get the right mixture of both bee species, they could breed out the aggressive nature of the African bee, but keep its ability to produce more honey. In Africa, bees average 70 kilograms of honey per colony (Winston 10). Scientists believe that, with time and research, the African bee can produce the same type of results in South America that it is able to produce in Africa. If we are able to harness the Africanized bee’s honey making abilities, then we would be able to revolutionize the honey making market. This could also have a positive impact on our economy and ecosystem. With just a little more energy and research, we have the ability to do great things with Africanized bees.

Secondly, the onset of the Africanized bee will force scientists to make revolutionary progress in the field of beekeeping. The current beekeeping tactics we are using now are the same bee tactics beekeepers have been using for hundreds of years. Very few people have experimented with beekeeping and therefore it has stayed the same. The government has not spent nearly enough money on African bee research; therefore we don’t know the exact potential of these bees. Scientists believe that “those beekeepers who successfully practice post-Africanized beekeeping will survive and prosper; those who are not able or willing to adapt will not (Winston, “The Impact of a Tropical-Evolved…” 139)”. The money spent on researching African bees will most certainly also help modernize and update the whole beekeeping community.

Also, Africanized bees do not have stronger venom than European bees. The Africanized bee does not have any stronger poison within it than our own honey bees (Desert USA). In reality, an Africanized bee by itself cannot cause any more damage to a person than a European bee. Does that mean we should kill all bees then? Of course not! We all need to make extra safety precautions in order to offset the African bees. They are no more deadly than our native bees when they are alone. If a swarm of European bees stung someone and that person was weak or old, they would most likely die just as someone would if they were stung by a swarm of Africanized bees. Therefore, it is unjust that we are being so prejudice against the Africanized bee. They are no more or less threatening than our European bees unless they are in a large group.

Finally, the only real threat we have is the media. The media has blown the Africanized bee situation out of proportion. It is the media that coined the phrase “Killer Bee”, not scientists. From movies to magazine articles, the “Killer Bee” has been the creation of the media. The film Swarm features the depiction of humankind being plagued by the vast swarms of oncoming “Killer Bees” (Winston 5). This depiction is wrong and a grotesque depiction of Africanized bees. They don’t attack for any reason; they must be either disturbed or provoked into such action. While the media has probably scarred the public for no reason, it has also helped the honey industry (Winston 5). With all the crazy non-sense being spread about the onslaught of “Killer Bees”, the bee industry has enjoyed a rise in sales. Already the Africanized bee is proving that it can have a positive affect on Americas’ economy and the bee has barely reached America.

In conclusion, we shouldn’t be as worried about the eventual presence of Africanized bees. These bees have a great potential for helping our economy and strengthening the beekeeping trade. The Africanized bee is no more venomous than our own European bee and has merely been made to be threatening by our own media. We have the ability to live peacefully with the Africanized bee and therefore we should try our hardest to.

Works Cited & Works Used

*“Attack of the “Killer Bees.”” November 2000. Desert USA. March 31, 2002. http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/kbees.html.

Laidlaw, H.H., Jr. “Thoughts on Countering the Africanized-Bee Threat.” In Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites. Eds. Glen R. Needham, Robert E. Page, Jr., Mercedes Delfinado-Baker, Clive E. Bowman, 209-213. Chichester: Ellis Horwood Limited, 1988.

Rindere, Thomas E. “Evolutionary Aspects of the Africanization of Honey-Bee Populations in the Americas.” In Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites. Eds. Glen R. Needham, Robert E. Page, Jr., Mercedes Delfinado-Baker, Clive E. Bowman, 13-25. Chichester: Ellis Horwood Limited, 1988.

Taylor, Orley R., Jr., “Ecology and Economic Impact of African and Africanized Honey Bees.” In Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites. Eds. Glen R. Needham, Robert E. Page, Jr., Mercedes Delfinado-Baker, Clive E. Bowman, 37-39. Chichester: Ellis Horwood Limited, 1988.

*Winston, Mark L., “Killer Bees: The Africanized Honey Bee in the Americas.” Cambridge: Massachusetts, 1992.

*Winston, Mark L., “The Impact of a Tropical-Evolved Honey Bee in Temperate Climates of North America.” In Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites. Eds. Glen R. Needham, Robert E. Page, Jr., Mercedes Delfinado-Baker, Clive E. Bowman, 138-139. Chichester: Ellis Horwood Limited, 1988.

*Sources Used