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See also: [Dispelling Myths]  Africanized Honey BeesIn 1956, prompted by a request from the Brazilian government, a prominent geneticist by the name of Dr. Warwick Kerr imported 63 queens of an African strain of wild honey bee in an effort to increase levels of honey production from the country's poorly producing domesticated European honey bees (EHB). An unintentional release led to the rapid establishment of the Africanized honey bee (AHB - offspring from the genetic cross between the African and European honey bees) in South America.Ideally adapted to tropical climates and a prodigious reproducer, this species expanded its range an average of 200-300 miles per year. Amid increasing reports of aggressive tendencies, failed attempts were made to contain the advancement. By October of 1990, AHB had ranged as far north as Brownsville, Texas. Westward expansion brought AHB to California in October of 1994. The first Africanized bees were detected in Riverside County at the Chuckwalla Valley State Prison just west of the city of Blythe. It took AHB another 4 years to finally reach Los Angeles County. In November 1998, AHB were found nesting in an apartment building wall in Lawndale, California.
Our District received the first confirmation of AHB from the city of West Covina in January of 1999. To date AHB have been detected throughout the San Gabriel Valley and southern California is considered fully colonized. Precautionary and preventative measures need to be implemented now to avoid
potential stinging incidents in the future. As their name indicates, Africanized or "killer" bees can be dangerous.
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