| 1355020 |
Adult(s) |
An Africanized honey bee (left) and a European honey bee on honeycomb. Despite color differences between these two bees, normally they can't be identified by eye. |
| 1355021 |
Feature(s) |
Closeup of Africanized honey bees (AHBs) surrounding a European queen honey bee (EHB), marked with a pink dot for identification. Since AHBs arrived in Texas in 1990, they've mated with EHBs and spread throughout the Southwest. But rather than commingling, AHBs tend to replace EHBs, partly because EHB queen bees mate disproportionately with African drones. |
| 1355022 |
Research |
Entomologist David Gilley is part of the team investigating the usurpation of European honey bee colonies by swarms of Africanized honey bees. Because queenless colonies are particularly susceptible to usurpation, the team maintains a group of queenless colonies to lure usurpation swarms into their apiary to be studied. Gilley is shown here requeening one of these "bait colonies." |
| 1355023 |
Trap(s) |
Entomologist Justin Schmidt examines an ARS honey bee trap used to lure Africanized bee swarms and prevent their establishment in walls of buildings. Captured swarms are easily removed or destroyed with soapy water. |
| 1355004 |
Control |
Northwest Fire District's Captain John Estes of Tucson, Arizona, uses a wide spray of water and chemical wetting agent as a means of subduing Africanized honey bees. Looking on is ARS entomologist Eric Erickson (retired), who taught this control method to fire departments throughout Arizona. |
