African bees in the Americas: Insights from biogeography and genetics

Abstract

The spread of African honey bees in South and Central America is one of the most remarkable and certainly among the most highly publicized instances of biological invasion. Their aggressive nest defense has led to numerous stinging incidents and even deaths; aggressiveness, coupled with a tendency to abandon the nest when disturbed, has also caused serious disruption of beekeeping and pollination industries in regions that they have invaded. The rapid spread of African bees in the Americas and their recent arrival in the United States have sparked interest in development of genetic tools for identification of honeybee populations. This in turn has renewed interest in honeybee biogeography.