AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES Honey Bees In The United States Honey bees are not native to the Am
AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES
Honey Bees In The United States
Honey bees are not native to the Americas. During the
1600's, settlers brought honey bee colonies with them from
Europe, hence the name European honey bees (EHB). Today, honey
bees are commonly seen visiting flowers to gather nectar needed
to produce the sweet food product, honey, that is associated with
this insect. In the process of visiting blossoms, honey bees
pollinate cultivated crops valued at $30 billion annually.
Additionally, honey bees play an important role in pollinating
plants that are necessary for wildlife.
Bees have numerous predators, including humans, that take
the honey, pollen, and beeswax that the colony produces for its
survival. Consequently, honey bees have developed effective
colony defense strategies. If unprovoked, honey bees rarely use
their stingers; but if they do sting, they only do it once and
die soon afterwards.
Africanized Honey Bees
In 1956 researchers in Brazil attempted to develop a more
appropriate honey bee than the races that had been imported from
Europe. Honey bee queens from Africa, whose offspring were
presumably better suited for tropical Brazilian conditions, were
imported and established in test colonies in Rio Claro, Sao
Paulo, Brazil. In 1957 some African bee swarms escaped into the
Brazilian countryside where their queens hybridized with the more
docile resident European honey bees. African honey bee queens
were also given to beekeepers at that time.
The offspring of these bees defended their nests more
vigorously, swarmed more often, and were generally better suited
for survival in the tropics than European honey bees.
Researchers named this African - European hybrid the Africanized
honey bee (AHB). However, as a result of widely publicized
stinging incidents, the movie industry and media used the name
"Killer Bee" to describe the Africanized honey bee, thus giving
the public serious misconceptions about this type of honey bee.
Occasional swarms on ships coming from South and Central
America are a concern but are not major threats to the public or
to the beekeeping industry. The first Africanized honey bee
colony found in the United States (as a result of natural range
expansion) was reported on October 15, 1990, at Hildago, Texas,
very near the Mexican border. Other AHB swarms have been found
since then, but all known AHB swarms have been destroyed.
Defensive Behavior Of Africanized Honey Bees
Unlike the docile European honey bees common in the United
States, the Africanized honey bee defends its hive more quickly
and will pursue intruders greater distances. Most serious
stinging incidents have involved animals; but, on rare occasions,
humans have also been stung. Stinging occurs after a human or
animal has intruded the territory of the honey bee colony. In
some cases, vibrations from machinery have provoked stinging
incidents. Chance encounters with individual AHB's on blossoms
pose no greater threat than an encounter with European honey
bees.
Even though mass stinging is terrifying and could be life
threatening, it is rare. Also, the venom from one AHB sting is
no more potent than the venom of a single EHB sting. Common
sense is the best defense for avoiding stings from all stinging
insects -not just honey bees. If you are being stung or you are
in the vicinity of large numbers of insects you think might
sting, calmly but quickly move away from the area.
Other Africanized Honey Bee Traits
In spite of its "big" reputation, the AHB is actually
smaller than the European honey bee. However, the difference is
not obvious. For identification, special techniques must be
used. Beekeepers in areas recently Africanized commonly complain
that honey yields have dropped precipitously. However, after
developing different management schemes over several years, honey
yields in Africanized areas have recovered somewhat.
The AHB produces swarms more often than the European honey
bee currently found in the United States. This is due in part to
their shorter development time and the propensity to use
resources to rear more bees, rather than to store their resources
for periods of shortage. Consequently, Africanized honey bees
sometimes gain a population advantage over European honey bees.
Africanized honey bees frequently construct nests in exposed
areas that would rarely be selected by EHB. However, the higher
frequency of exposed nests could be because the preferred sites
are occupied. Since these bees are well suited for life in warm
climates, there is reason to believe that the warmer states will
have to contend with feral Africanized honey bee establishment
first. However, due to potential encounters with EHB in great
numbers, the AHB could become further hybridized. In the future
even honey bees in northern states may show some Africanized
honey bee traits.
Both European honey bees and Africanized honey bees require
pollen collected from plants as a protein source. The
Africanized honey bee's unique manageability characteristics
concern many U.S. beekeepers who move thousands of colonies each
season for crop pollination and honey production.
If Africanization Is Suspected
If Africanization is suspected, contact your county agent,
state apiarist, state beekeeping extension specialist, or the
local bee inspector for help. Determining whether or not
Africanization has occurred is a difficult procedure that will
require technical assistance. The county extension office will
usually have the address and telephone numbers for authorities
who can help.
Collecting Honey Bee Samples for Identification: Dead bee
samples can be collected and preserved in several ways. A small
jar or plastic container with a 70 percent alcohol solution is
appropriate for preserving bees for morphometric identification.
Ethanol is best, but isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or methanol can
also be used. Collect 50 to 100 adult worker bees. Another way
to collect a similar sample requires collecting live bees in a
sealable plastic bag and immediately putting the bag in a
freezer. Live bee collection should be performed by an
appropriately trained individual.
All samples should be submitted to the appropriate State
Apiary Inspector or State Extension Apiculturist for routing to
the proper authorities for identification. The county agent will
be able to help in contacting them.
Disposing of Africanized honey bee swarms and feral
colonies: The increase in the number of swarms that normally
accompanies the Africanization of an area and the greater public
awareness of all honey bees means there will be more requests for
assistance to dispose of unwanted colonies. This activity
requires properly trained and equipped response teams. Untrained,
unprotected individuals are at high risk of being severely stung.
Again, state beekeeping authorities should be contacted for
assistance in destroying suspected Africanized honey bee
colonies.
Understanding The Africanized Honey Bee
Scientists have studied the Africanized honey bee in other
countries for many years. These projects conducted in Argentina,
Venezuela, French Guiana, Brazil, and other South and Central
American countries during the past twenty years have yielded much
information about AHB behavior and biology. Cooperative programs
between the United States and Mexico have also been helpful in
understanding the Africanized honey bee's swarming behavior and
rate of spread. Though much has been learned about the
Africanized honey bee, more research is needed.
Articles about deaths associated with the Africanized honey
bee have been published, but the actual number of deaths has been
very small. Statistically, everyday risks, such as auto
accidents, pose a much greater risk to the public.
The public should stay informed about issues concerning
Africanized honey bees, but not be unduly alarmed. Any future
Africanized honey bee problems are not without solutions.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AFRICANIZED AND EUROPEAN HONEY BEES
Africanized and European honey bees are members of the same
species, Apis mellifera. They represent populations that have
evolved under different environmental conditions. The same basic
behavior, biochemistry, and structure are expressed by all
members of the species. However, there are differences in the
range, size, or frequency of expression of some characteristics.
The differences that do exist have led to our concerns about the
spread of the AHB into the United States; however, they have
allowed us to distinguish them from European honey bees.
Defensive Behavior
The single characteristic of Africanized honey bees (AHB)
receiving the most public attention is their excessive level of
colony defense. All honey bees respond to perceived threats to
the nest; however, AHB do so more readily and more vigorously
than European honey bees (EHB). In studies with both types of
colonies, the AHB responded to cues of disturbance, alarm
pheromone, and moving targets much faster than the EHB. In
addition, three to four times as many AHB worker bees reacted and
left eight to ten times as many stings in 30 seconds in suede
test targets. A greater number of AHB will pursue intruders for
a greater distance than EHB. Research has confirmed that there
is a great deal of behavioral variation in both populations
between colonies and from day to day.
It is important to recognize that AHB colonies are
unpredictable and have a greater potential for excessive
stinging. Africanized honey bees have killed people and domestic
animals. In Mexico over 1,000 stingings, which include 58 human
deaths, have been reported between September 1986, and September
1991. When an apiary is disturbed by a beekeeper or other
intruder, AHB colonies remain aroused and defensive much longer.
It may take a disturbed AHB apiary as long as a week to return to
a quiet state.
The Technical Working Group of the USDA is recommending that
beekeepers not attempt to manage Africanized colonies. They
should requeen, move, or destroy such colonies. Even a few
colonies of defensive bees in an apiary may cause problems.
Weather, season, and food availability can affect the demeanor of
any honey bee colony. Consequently, predicting times when a
colony may become defensive is difficult. Assuredly, unprepared
beekeepers are at risk of being seriously stung.
Honey Production
The honey production potential of the Africanized honey bees
is a characteristic that is often misunderstood. This trait is
highly dependent on the quality and quantity of nectar available
for collection by foraging bees. The differences in behavior
that are seen in AHB are ones that make them more effective
survivors in a tropical environment where nectar flows are often
scattered, are of poor quality nectar and are irregular. It is
rain that stimulates blooming, not the season. Those same
characteristics make them unsuited as effective honey producers
in temperate climates where the pattern is a seasonal one, nectar
flows are intense, and there is a long period with no bloom
(winter). For the beekeeper, this means that for most areas with
economically important nectar flows, the European varieties will
outproduce Africanized honey bees.
Colony Reproduction
One survival adaptation of Africanized honey bees is to
multiply quickly and then to swarm. The Africanized honey bee
has the propensity to swarm more often than the European honey
bee. Africanized honey bees have a shorter development time,
emerging as adults approximately one day earlier. Another
difference is in the brood pattern. The AHB brood is often in a
wide pattern filling an entire frame. Beekeepers listed the
characteristic full frames of brood as being the most significant
visible difference between EHB and Africanized honey bees. All
this brood may be maintained with little stored honey and pollen.
As soon as nectar and pollen are brought into the hive, they are
used to feed young larvae.
Body Size and Color
The expression of body size is the difference that is used
for the official identification of the Africanized honey bees.
The AHB is smaller than the EHB. A method called USDA-ID uses
measurements of wings, wing angles, legs, and wax mirrors to
predict the probability that a sample of ten bees from a colony
is AHB or EHB. The procedure requires dissection of the bees and
measurement with the aid of a computer.
Body color is a very unreliable characteristic for
identification of AHB. Although they tend to be dark and
distinctively striped, there is considerable variation within the
AHB population. Also, some European honey bees may show similar
coloration. Another size measurement that has been used to make
preliminary identifications in the field is the length of ten
cells of honey comb. This distance in EHB is usually greater
than 5.0 cm and in AHB less than 4.9 cm. Several measurements
must be made in areas of naturally drawn comb with no
distortions.
Other Observable Differences
Africanized bees on the comb are nervous, or "runny." Often
they will fly off a frame when it is handled, or may hang from
the bottom edge in festoons. Since the queen frequently runs on
the comb, she can be difficult to find within the hive.
Additionally, mated and laying AHB queens have been observed
to fly away from a colony as it is being examined. It is not
unusual to have to remove all the frames from a hive to search
for the queen. The AHB may also "parade" around the empty bee
hive in great swirls.
Africanized honey bee colonies often show heavy propolizing,
especially around the entrance. Their behavior in reducing the
entrance area with large sheets of propolis may be a defense
against ants or other predators.
An invalid identification attribute is the quick, jerky
flight attributed to the AHB. It has been incorrectly reported
that only returning Africanized honey bee workers seem to fly
directly into the entrance without landing on the landing board.
European honey bees may also act this way during good nectar
flows.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
HONEY PRODUCTION AND POLLINATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE
Honey Production by Africanized Honey Bees
Beekeepers in areas recently Africanized have a common
complaint--honey yields have dropped precipitously. Honey yields
have recovered somewhat after several years of developing
management schemes more appropriate to Africanized honey bees
(AHB).
Africanized honey bees are essentially gleaning bees - bees
that tend to forage individually. Even on a weak nectar/pollen
flow, AHB still forage and return with nectar and pollen. Since
a weak flow will not support brood nest expansion or swarming
preparation, Africanized honey bees store the nectar as honey.
Under the same conditions, European honey bees (EHB) will not
forage marginal plants that Africanized bees will accept.
European bees, quite literally, will starve to death located
beside an AHB colony that is bringing in enough resources to
survive.
During good nectar and pollen flows, AHB are more likely to
swarm. The AHB colony will start supporting brood production
using the excess honey. Then, at the first opportunity, the
colonies will drastically reduce the honey crop by swarming.
Unfortunately, the idea that using AHB in marginal areas for
honey production has been thought of as practical. However,
beekeepers must realize that marginal areas are unprofitable
under most conditions even using AHB.
Under no circumstances should a beekeeper in the U.S.
maintain AHB colonies. There are too many potential problems -
including severe stinging incidents. In a nectar flow environment
where a beekeeper can make a living, EHB will outperform AHB,
will be more profitable, and will have fewer problems.
Pollination Behavior of the Africanized Honey Bee
Africanized honey bees devote about half of their foraging
force to pollen collection while EHB rarely use more than 25 to
30 percent of the worker population for collecting pollen. Thus
Africanized honey bees collect more pollen over time, partly
because they devote a greater proportion of their foraging
population to this task. In general, both AHB and EHB do a good
job of pollinating flowers.
However, other traits of Africanized honey bees make them
unsuitable for use in commercial pollination management schemes.
They are more stressed by the frequent moving and manipulation
which leads to higher levels of absconding, stress-related
disease, queen loss, and general disruption of normal foraging
behavior. The extreme defensive behavior of the AHB makes it
impractical to use in areas being harvested or where farm workers
and other persons are present.
In areas where beekeepers can maintain bees profitably, EHB
will outperform AHB in honey production. Using AHB as
pollinators can mean poor colony performance. In both cases,
either for honey production or pollination, the use of AHB
carries with it the threat of severe stinging of workers, other
people, and farm or domestic animals.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE AND ITS RANGE EXPANSION
INTO THE UNITED STATES
Scientists believe that all honey bees originated in
Southeast Asia because many of the current species, Apis cerana,
Apis dorsata, and Apis florea, still exist there. The Western
honey bee, Apis mellifera, is believed to have spread out from
that region to inhabit areas of Africa and Europe. The bees in
Europe underwent natural selection to survive in a climate with
long, cold winters and intense nectar flows of relatively short
duration. The bees that spread into Africa evolved to survive
under more tropical conditions, with an annual pattern of wet and
dry seasons, and weak, unpredictable nectar flows.
Honey bees did not occur naturally in the Americas. Early
American settlers, knowing the value of honey bees, brought many
races from Europe. A. mellifera, from Northern Europe, A.
mellifera ligustica, from Italy, and A. mellifera iberica, from
Spain, were among the races introduced to the new world. These
European races did well in North America, which has a climate
like Europe, but did not become well established in the tropical
areas of South and Central America.
Citrus is known internationally as a nectar-producing crop.
The growth of the citrus industry in Brazil in the 1950's made
scientists aware of the potential for increased honey production
in their country. In an attempt to improve the domestic honey
bees of Brazil, in the late 1950's, a Brazilian geneticist went
to Africa to select and import queens of A. mellifera scutellata
for a breeding program. This race of bees was being used by
beekeepers in the Eastern Highlands of Africa with both modern
and rustic beekeeping methods. Because queens first selected and
shipped to Brazil died in transit, early attempts at importation
were unsuccessful. However, in 1957, African queens from South
Africa and Tanzania were introduced into honey bee colonies in
the state of Sao Paulo.
The African honey bee became established in the Brazilian
jungle after an accident allowed 26 swarms with imported African
queens to escape. Additionally, other African queens were given
to local beekeepers for their use. Consequently, the African
bees adapted to a tropical environment and became established in
Brazil.
Since African and European honey bees are members of the
same species, A. mellifera, they interbred freely. Matings
between the African honey bee, A. mellifera scutellata, and
European races already in Brazil resulted in a hybrid bee
population. These hybrid bees were named Africanized honey bees
(AHB). In areas where there were relatively few or no European
honey bees (EHB), the predominant hybrid was more African-like.
In areas with extensive beekeeping and importation of EHB queens,
the feral AHB population showed the clear influence of the
European honey bee stock.
As the AHB expanded its range from the original site in the
state of Sao Paulo in Brazil, it moved in all directions. They
spread to the coast on the east and to the Andes mountains on the
west. The Andes served as a barrier to westward movement across
South America until the bees crossed the mountains in Northern
Peru. The AHB entered Ecuador from the south and Peru from the
north. At the same time the AHB moved north through South
America into Central America and from there to North America. On
October 15, 1990, an AHB swarm that moved naturally into the
United States was captured and destroyed in southern Texas for
the first time.
The Africanized honey bee has the ability to survive in many
different climates. Colonies have been found in rain forest and
dry desert areas. They establish nests from the low coastal
regions to high mountains (about 9,000 ft in Colombia, 11,000 ft
in Venezuela). Early predictions were that the AHB would be
limited to the warmest areas of the southern states and
California. Other scientists felt that the AHB was cold-tolerant
enough to spread throughout much of the United States with the
possible exception of the northern midwest. Researchers are still
unsure how far north the Africanized honey bee will survive in
the United States.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
CURRENT RESEARCH ON AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE HYBRIDIZATION
The study of the introduction and establishment of
Africanized honey bees in specific areas has been intensively
discussed in scientific literature. Recent research conducted in
Argentina and Mexico has presented information pertaining to
honey bee hybridization that has occurred in two areas.
In the Neotropics, introduced European honey bees (Apis
mellifera L.) have been largely supplanted by bees descended from
an African race, A. mellifera scutellata Lepetier, which were
introduced into Brazil in the 1950's. Recent restriction enzyme
analyses indicate that mitochondrial DNA in some neotropical
populations is almost entirely of African origin, and these data
have been cited as evidence for asymmetrical gene flow between
African- and European-derived populations. Evaluation of the
nature of hybridization in the Neotropics is, however, confounded
by possible population size advantages for the African-derived
group.
As an alternative approach, genetic interactions have been
studied in transitional areas between zones ecologically and
climatically adaptive for each geographic type. A study was
conducted that transected regions populated by African- and
European-derived honey bees in Argentina. Mitochondrial DNA,
morphological and isoenzyme analysis from this study showed that
substantial hybridization occurs between European and African
bees in the surveyed area.
In the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, a population genetic
analysis of honey bees has shown that the range expansion of
Africanized bees there has involved extensive introgressive
hybridization with the large resident population of European
honey bees. The Yucatan honey bee population now includes many
colonies with intermediate morphologies. Genotypes of
mitochondria have disassociated from historically correlated
Africanized or European morphology, producing diverse phenotypic
associations. This suggests that the size of the resident
European populations may be important in explaining previously
reported asymmetrical hybridization. Evidence of natural
hybridization is encouraging for the use of genetic management to
mitigate the effects of Africanized honey bees in the United
States.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
DISPOSING OF AFRICANIZED SWARMS
OR FERAL COLONIES
Africanized Honey Bee Swarm Destruction
Because of the increasing number of feral swarms normally
accompanying the Africanization of an area and some
misconceptions by the public about honey bees, there is a need
for swarm/colony destruction by trained personnel. In countries
where Africanization has already occurred, such as those in South
and Central America, fire departments or specially-trained units
are called to destroy swarms or established colonies. In the
United States, this responsibility may be assumed by different
parties depending on the state and/or local laws and regulations.
Private parties such as beekeepers and pest control operators
must be aware of state laws and regulations regarding pest
control and use of chemicals and the potential for liability.
Honey bee control, especially with the Africanized honey bee
(AHB), could result in stinging incidents for untrained people.
Other potential problems are the environmental consequences of
chemical use or the damage to buildings including dwellings.
Applicators of restricted-use pesticides must be certified by the
state. The county extension agent will know when Pesticide
Applicator Training programs are available in their county.
Recommendations for Removing AHB Swarms
There are a number of ways to remove swarms and wild
colonies safely. Primary concerns of those performing the
removal and destruction service are: their own safety, the
safety of onlookers, and the safety of the people or animals
around the area after the swarm is removed.
Several pesticides are readily available that list honey
bees on their labels, including several wasp and hornet sprays.
Carbon dioxide and dry chemical fire extinguishers have also been
used. However, wasp and hornet sprays and extinguishers may
constitute a hazard for nearby observers since bees could fly
readily from the cluster. There are, however, other ways of
killing bees.
Some recent research was directed at identifying the most
appropriate methods for killing swarms. The most effective
method for exposed bees (such as a swarm settled on a branch) is
soap and water. A solution of one cup of liquid dishwashing
detergent in one gallon of water is sprayed, using a garden
sprayer, on the cluster of bees until all are thoroughly covered.
Another material, called "wet water," available to fire
departments, is also effective. Bees cannot fly from the cluster
when their wings are wet. Adding detergent or a surfactant
causes the water to penetrate the breathing tubes. Dead and
fallen bees should be collected on a drop cloth or similar
material and disposed of in a suitable manner. For nests in
cavities, including colonies, the soap method is not acceptable
because it is too difficult to achieve good penetration of the
bee mass. When the bees are in a confined area that can be
closed up, approved insecticides are most effective. If used
correctly, most of the bees within the cavity should be
immobilized within 15 minutes. Any comb and honey from nests
treated with insecticides are contaminated and must be disposed
of properly.
Another alternative may be used for bees in hives or other
structures that can be enclosed in a heavy-duty plastic bag.
Enclose the nest in the bag and allow the bees to suffocate in
the hot sun, or put the bag in a freezer until the bees are dead.
Both approaches require more time to be sure the bees are dead.
In all cases of bee removal, dead bees, comb, honey, and brood
must be disposed of correctly. Any residue such as rotting
brood, melting comb, or fermenting honey may attract more swarms.
If possible, the cavity should be made inaccessible to prevent
other swarms from colonizing the same site.
ONLY USE insecticides registered for use on bees!
Registration is a legal procedure and the label is a legal,
enforceable document. Using these materials outside their label
designations is illegal! Many insecticides are hazardous to
humans and animals. Never use fire or flammable materials such
as gasoline, paint thinner, or kerosene to kill bees.
Suppressing Feral Africanized Honey Bee Populations
Should Africanized honey bee populations become established
within an area, unmanageable bee populations can be controlled,
or at least suppressed, using chemicals or practical procedures.
Only individuals having pesticide applicator certification, or in
some other way sanctioned to use insecticides by the state,
should apply chemicals to honey bee populations.
Swarm traps baited with chemical attractants are a proven
effective means of eliminating swarms. Using swarm traps is more
work than using chemicals, but simpler and safer.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
ATTRACTING HONEY BEE SWARMS WITH BAIT HIVES
Bait hives (also referred to as swarm traps) are hollow
containers placed outdoors to attract honey bee swarms. After a
swarm occupies a bait hive, it can be added to an apiary or
destroyed. In areas with Africanized honey bees (AHB),
destruction of swarms is recommended and may be regulated by the
state.
Constructing Bait Hives
The term "bait hive" originated from the use of wooden boxes
or hive equipment to attract swarms. A bait hive may also be a
manufactured container such as a box or pulp pot used to attract
swarms searching for nest sites.
How Bait Hives Work
Bait hives operate on the principle of providing a bee swarm
with a nest site. The most effective box for a swarm: (1) is
about the size of a standard hive body; (2) is sturdy; (3)
contains an entrance hole about an inch in diameter; and (4)
contains a pheromone lure to attract the swarm. The artificially
produced pheromone lure is a copy of the chemicals produced by
Nasanov glands of worker honey bees. This worker-produced scent
is used by swarms to control their movement and cohesiveness and
to mark the site of the new nest. Without a pheromone lure, bait
hives are not as attractive to honey bee swarms.
Three types of bait hives are commonly used. One of these
is a cardboard box about 18 by 12 by 7 inches, covered with a
blue, yellow, or white plastic bag. The other two are made of
brown wood pulp fiber. One is like a flower pot, about 16 inches
high and 16 inches in diameter. The other is simply a five-frame
nucleus hive. This latter model also has other apiary uses. Hive
equipment or wooden boxes can also be used as bait hives.
The cardboard box/plastic bag bait hives have some
advantages. They are inexpensive and collapsible, making them
easy to transport; however, they are not durable. They may last
only a few months in the field and are less attractive to honey
bee swarms. The pulp pot swarm traps have different advantages.
They may be used up to two years in the field and are more
attractive to swarms. They are, however, more expensive to
purchase and ship.
Deploying Bait Hives
Bait hives should be in place at times when bees are likely
to swarm and in locations where bees are prone to search for new
cavities. The beekeeper should position bait hives before the
expected swarming season. Ideally, the bait hive should be
placed in an open, but partially shaded location that is about
10-15 feet from the ground. Trees provide natural sites for bait
hives. One should attach the bait hive securely, to decrease
wind movement, and provide a pheromone lure. Lures are
effective for about a year. Therefore, they should be replaced
annually. During the swarming season, bait hives should be
checked weekly and the bees removed.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
THE AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE'S ABILITY TO TOLERATE COLD CONDITIONS
Research Approaches
Researchers have studied the over-wintering abilities of the
Africanized honey bee (AHB) since the early 1970's. One of the
first steps was to look at the natural range of the African
parental race, Apis mellifera, in Africa and then look at the
range of AHB populations in South America. In South Africa, A.
mellifera scutellata colonies survive in areas that have cold
conditions including short periods of snow. Observations on AHB
and European honey bees (EHB) in the Andes mountains of South
America showed a greater tolerance for cold by AHB than was once
believed. Studies were also conducted using refrigeration
chambers and with colonies over-wintered in Germany. In this
latter study, where less than ten colonies of AHB were used, it
was found that after three-and-a-half to four months of average
over-wintering conditions, many more AHB colonies than EHB died.
However, some AHB colonies survived as well as many European
colonies and all of the F1 hybrid colonies.
Conclusions
Even though none of the AHB wintering studies have been
conclusive, several trends and potential scenarios have been
developed regarding the range of AHB in the U.S. Contrary to
earlier hypothesis, it was found that AHB can thermoregulate
quite well at cold temperatures. In fact, AHB, EHB, and their
hybrids are equally capable of maintaining adequate temperatures
inside the winter nest as long as they have access to food. The
accumulated information also dispelled the idea that AHB are
unable to form clusters during cold periods. The greatest winter
survival difference between the two bee types is the absolute
survival time of colonies and of workers over long periods of
either flightlessness, confinement, or extreme cold.
Future AHB Distribution in the United States
The potential distribution of the AHB in the United States
is dependent on many factors such as the ultimate level of
hybridization with existing populations and various aspects of
honey bee over-wintering biology. Several studies on the
southern limits of AHB range expansion in Argentina have
documented a clearly Africanized tropical population separated
from a European population in more temperate areas by a
relatively stable zone of hybridization. The bees in this zone
show many combinations of AHB and EHB characteristics. It is
very likely that a similar situation will come to exist in the
US. However, exactly where in this country the northern limit of
the AHB population will lie is still a matter for extensive
speculation.
This factsheet was prepared by Dr. James E. Tew, National Program
Leader, Apiculture, Extension Service, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University at Wooster,
Ohio and Dr. Anita M. Collins, Research Leader, Honey Bee
Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Weslaco,
Texas in cooperation with the USDA Interagency Technical Working
Group on the Africanized Honey Bee.
E-Mail Fredric L. Rice / The Skeptic Tank