Killer Bees Discovered In Colorado
PALISADE, Colo. (CBS4)-- A species of dangerous bees popularly known as killer bees have been discovered for the first time in Colorado.
Africanized honey bees are usually found in warmer climates like Texas and Arizona. They've been discovered in Palisade.
Experts said this is the farthest north the bees have been reported. It was believed the insects couldn't survive harsh winters.
"We're going to have to start testing more bees to figure out exactly how wide spread they are," Bob Hammon with Colorado State University Tri-River Extension said. "This find brings up a lot more questions than it answers … we have a long ways to go to learn about Africanized bees in Colorado."
The bees take over the hives of other bees and kill the queen.
The Mesa County Health Department said the bees were sent in for testing and once the tests came back identifying them as Africanized honey bees, the hive was destroyed.