Africanized Honeybees
There are no reports of Africanized honeybees (AHB) in Canada. One swarm of AHB was collected from a ship in the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia a number of years ago but the swarm was destroyed immediately.
Africanized honeybees are found in Brazil, Central America and their range has expanded to the southern United States. Biologists believe that the Canadian climate is too cold to support colonies of Africanized honeybees over winter.
The difference between Africanized and European bees can be summarized as follows.
|
Activity |
Africanized Honeybee (AHB) |
European Honey Bee (EHB) |
|
Chase distance |
up to 400 metres (1/4 mile) |
up to 50 metres (50 yards) |
|
Agitation time after colony disturbed |
8 hours or longer |
about 1 hour |
|
Reaction distance |
React to operation of power equipment within 30 metres |
No reaction to power equipment |
|
|
Sense movement within 15 metres (50 ft) |
No reaction to movement |
|
First sting time |
0.3 seconds |
9.2 seconds |
|
Size |
wing slightly smaller, visibly the same as EHB |
wing slightly larger, visibly the same as AHB |
|
Sting |
stings once but 8 to 10 times more bees sting than EHB |
stings once but one tenth the number of attackers than AHB |
|
Pollinate |
Pollinate flowers |
Pollinate flowers |
|
Swarm |
Swarm frequently |
Swarm occasionally in spring |
|
Egg to Hatching |
18.5 days |
21 days |
|
Average production |
20,000 bees, 25 lb honey |
60,000 bees, 100 lb honey |
