Africanized Honey Bee

Authors

Erin W. Hodgson, Utah State University
Cory A. Stanley, Utah State University
Alan H. Roe, Utah State University
Danielle Downey, Utah State University

Document Type

Factsheet

Publisher

Utah State University Extension

Publication Date

11-1-2010

Abstract

African honey bees (Apis mellifera scutellata) are native to sub-Saharan Africa and were introduced in the Americas to improve honey production in the tropics. These African honey bees were accidentally released and began to interbreed with European honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica), the most common subspecies used for pollination and honey production in the United States (Fig. 1). As a result, the hybrid offspring are called “Africanized” because of their shared characteristics. Africanized honey bees are about the same size, shape and color as European honey bees (Fig. 2), and a genetic analysis must be used to distinguish one from the other.

Recommended Citation

Hodgson, Erin W.; Stanley, Cory A.; Roe, Alan H.; and Downey, Danielle, "Africanized Honey Bee" (2010). All Current Publications. Paper 841.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/841