Biologist Warwick E. Kerr interbred honeybees from Europe and southern Africa to create the Africanized honeybee. In 1957, the hybrid bee was accidentally released in Brazil by a replacement beekeeper. Since then, the Africanized honeybee has invaded the US and earned the debated nickname of "killer bee". Their aggressive protective behavior has instilled a fear in humans and contributed to their alias.

Africanized Honeybees are
moving north at a rate of
100 - 300 miles per year.

A total of 2,460,000 Honeybee colonies in the United States
- 2007

2005-2010
2000-2005
1995-2000
1990-1995

FATAL
53
ATTACKS
Average Per Year
* all bee types

An Africanized Honeybee
is 10 times more likely to
initiate an attack or sting.

European and Africanized Honeybees can only be distinguished by molecular or morphometric analysis.

FACT: Africanized Honeybees follow victims up to 440 yards, while European Honeybees follow for only 50 yards.

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