What are killer bees?

Killer bees are more properly called African honey bees (AHBs), or sometimes Africanized honey bees. Actually a subspecies of Apis mellifera (the European honey bee) African honey bees earned their "killer" reputation for their more aggressive tendencies when defending their nests. read more

For a start, the Africanized honey bee is slightly smaller than its European cousin, so it actually carries less venom. This venom is no more potent either so, bee for bee, the killer bee is the lesser threat. read more

Killer bees, otherwise known as Africanized Honey Bees, are a species of bee that tenaciously defends their hive. The name "killer bee" is a bit misleading because the bee is actually smaller and its sting is less venomous than other bee species. read more

The Africanized bee, also known as the Africanised honey bee, and known colloquially as "killer bee", is a hybrid of the Western honey bee species (Apis mellifera), produced originally by cross-breeding of the African honey bee (A. m. scutellata), with various European honey bees such as the Italian bee A. m. ligustica and the Iberian bee A. m. iberiensis. read more