Africanized bees found in East Tennessee, beekeeper attacked

AFP/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) Tennessee agricultural officials say a colony of partially Africanized bees, which are more aggressive than domestic honey bees, have been found in East Tennessee.

The Tennessee Agriculture Department said in a news release that the bees were found last week in a colony belonging to a beekeeper in Monroe County. State Apiarist Mike Studer said these bees have been found in other states, but this is the first time they have been found in Tennessee.

An East Tennessee beekeeper discovered the bees about two weeks ago, The Tennessean reports. After opening a hive with the Africanized bees, the man's father said his son was in caught in a cloud of bees. The beekeeper made his escape by jumping in his car and driving away, after a five-minute pursuit by the bees.

European honey bees are more docile and would have remained in the hive, according to Studer. That wasn't the case with the partially Africanized bees. The beekeeper claimed up to 100,000 bees burst out of the hive upon opening.

Studer said they will work with beekeepers to monitor their hives and look for other aggressive bees.

The biggest difference between Africanized honey bees and European honey bees is their behavior, which includes fiercely defending their nests. The sting from a single Africanized bee is no more venous than European honey bee.

[AJ7543]

The article conveniently fails to mention that the spread of these bees is in large part deliberate on the part of bee keepers, because these africanized bees are prolific honey producers, and thus they are more profitable than european bees. Greed wins over caution every time.

[ToolMangler1]

by mctrog007 April 13, 2012 11:35 AM EDT
"actually the africanized bees do NOT make more honey. they are more aggressive and make less honey."

'mctrog' is right. They make less Honey because they spend more time flying around 'fighting' everything in sight.. (Fact not fiction)

[foo8259]

We also have fire ants now.

[nomealaska]

The bees are evolving...how about the people of Tennessee?

[ToolMangler1]

Don't worry! The Bees will kill them off....

[MagnaCartaUK]

LOL, Nice one Toolmangler, I nearly choked on a drink reading it.

[ge556]

So, how likely is it that this is due to climate change?
Agricultural zones have shifted North, and other insects have moved, including pine back beetles, which have wiped out millions of acres of forest.

[hooyaman]

I have been a beekeeper for years and this year i have found my bees to be more agressive. I live close to Tennessee and was wondering if my bees might have crossed with these killer bees.

[ToolMangler1]

You would be well advised to start new hives with fresh uncontaminated Bees....