Africanized Honey Bees
...g between European bees and bees from Africa. -Honeybees are about 3/4 inch long, brownish, and a little bit fuzzy. Their nests are normally hidden in cavities. They have bright yellow and black markings on their bodies. - Both honey bees and Africanized bees look the same, they sting in defense, they can only sting once, they have the same venom, they pollinate flowers and both produce honey and wax. - However Africanized honeybees live wherever they want, they respond more quickly, they can sense a threat up to 50 meters from their nest, they can sense vibrations 100 meters from their nest, and they swarm frequently and produce numerous nests. - Africanized honeybees are more dangerous because they swarm in groups and when they attack, they attack all at once, and you have a greater chance of getting stung numerous times. They defend their nest a larger area then honeybees, and they respond in greater numbers. What part of agriculture industry relies heavily on the use of honeybees? - The honey making business. Honeybees pollinate many vegetables, fruits, and nuts, in addition to supplying us with honey. They produce honey and wax. What effects have the infiltration of Africanized honeybees had on agriculture industry in sates like California, Arizona and Texas? - There have been many effects. The beekeepers have had to do three main things. 1) They have had to cut down on the number of hives they are keeping. 2) The honey has not been as plentiful and as rewarding in profit, as it once was. 3) They have had to have a payment of higher wages, as it is a more difficult, strenuous and ongoing job. So as you can see, everyone has suffered, but beekeepers are learning how to deal with the problem and keep on producing honey. They have had to wear and buy bee suits and glov...