Africanized

Africanized is an adjective used to describe populations or lineages of honey bees descended from the African honey bee Apis mellifera scutellata, and especially the hybrid populations known as Africanized honey bees (AHB). The term originated after mid-20th-century efforts in Brazil to crossbreed African bees with European subspecies to improve honey production and disease resistance; some hybrids escaped in 1957, initiating a rapid spread across the Americas.

Africanized honey bees are noted for a tendency toward more defensive behavior and more frequent swarming, particularly when disturbed. Colonies can mobilize large numbers of guard bees to defend their hive, and the reaction time to perceived threats can be shorter than that of many European-origin colonies. Nevertheless, aggressiveness varies by colony, season, and management practices.

Geographically, Africanized populations have established themselves across much of the Americas, from parts of the southern United States through Central and South America and into the Caribbean and Mexico. They often coexist with European honey bee populations where both occur, and hybrid zones can form where ranges meet. Their presence has implications for beekeeping, agriculture, and public safety, given the potential for intense defensive responses during disturbances.

Response measures emphasize careful management to minimize conflicts: protective gear and calm handling by beekeepers, strategic hive placement away from high-traffic areas, and, when necessary, relocation or destruction of especially aggressive colonies. While venom potency is similar to that of European honey bees, the colony-level aggression of Africanized bees can lead to more severe exposure during encounters. Public health guidance focuses on prevention, rapid medical treatment for stings, and education.