When I was growing up in the 1970s, I developed an unusual fear. I wasn't afraid of nuclear war or the dark, or even monsters under the bed. No, I was afraid killer bees. Because of two cheesy horror movies from 1978, both of which featured swarming bees that killed people and derailed trains and helicopters, I feared the arrival of killer bees in upstate New York.
Thirty years later, killer bees still haven't been sighted at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. But to put my old childhood anxiety to rest, I've decided to investigate two things. First, is it possible that killer bees could reach New York State in the near future? Second, do "killer bees" really deserve their vicious nickname?
Africanized Honey Bees
Honey bees are not native to the Western Hemisphere. Beginning in the 1600s, European settlers brought them to the Americas. In the hemisphere's tropical regions, however, the European bees failed to produce as much honey as in their native climate. But that's not where the story ends.
In1956, the Brazilian government asked the biologist and geneticist Warwick Kerr to breed a strain of bees that could better adapt to the South American tropics and produce more honey than European bees. Because the African honey bee had demonstrated its ability to survive for millions of years in tropical climates, the Brazilian government hoped to create a strain of gentle yet hardy honey bees.
In 1957, some imported African bee queens were accidentally released and mated with local drones. Since then, Africanized honey bees (AHBs) have multiplied and migrated north through South America and Central America at a rate of more than 200 miles per year. In October 1990, the first AHB swarm was detected in Texas.
Angry Swarms
So are Africanized honey bees truly nasty? Yes! They will attack people and animals  that unknowingly stray into their territory, and will go on the offensive because of noise or vibrations from vehicles. Africanized bees multiply rapidly, too, because they are far less discriminating in their choice of nests. AHBs have been known to infest trees, sheds, attics, garbage cans, and even abandoned vehicles.
AHBs swarm more frequently, sting in greater numbers, and react to disturbances ten times more quickly than European honey bees. Africanized honey bees can also stay "angry" for days after being disturbed. When one AHB stings, the bee releases a pheromone that causes its fellow bees to become agitated and sting as well. An especially aggressive colony may attack anyone within 100 feet of its hive and can pursue for up to one-fourth of a mile.
Killer Bees Near You?
 So where have these Africanized bees taken up residence in the United States? After hitting Texas in 1990, they made their way to Arizona and New Mexico in 1993; California in 1994; Nevada in 1998; Oklahoma and Alabama in 2004; Arkansas, Florida and Louisiana in 2005; and Utah in February 2009.
But what if you don't live in any of those places? Should you be concerned?
Africanized honey bees abandon their hives to start over in new locations more readily than European honey bees. This can leave the original colony with insufficient stores to survive winters. Some scientists believe that AHBs will remain in the southern United States and reach only as far north as the Chesapeake Bay. Other researchers believe that AHBs will adapt to new, colder environments and roam as far north as Montana.
If this second group of scientists is correct, then killer bees really could reach upstate New York. But before residents of the Capital Region start running for the Arctic Circle, let's consider the importance of maintaining a healthy respect for all bee colonies - not just AHBs.
On warm days, we're all exposed to yellow jackets and wasps. Both are as equally as defensive as the AHB, yet we don't stay indoors. Even if Africanized honey bees are here to stay then, the best course of action is to stay informed and take precautions (such as avoiding potential hives) in order to lower the risk of attack.
Resources:
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/kbees.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africanized_bee
http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/bees/killer/
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Apis_mellifera_scutellata.htm
http://www.stingshield.com/arrive.htm
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