BEEKEEPERS ARE THE BEST LINE OF DEFENSE THE FUTURE OF AGAINST AFRICANIZED The Brazilian industry has recovered South Dakota remarkably from the initial depression caused It is important to remember that the by the establishment of the Africanized beekeeper’s livelihood is dependent on Department of honeybee. Today southern has more working with gentle and productive beekeepers, more managed colonies, and honeybees. Therefore, it is in the best Agriculture higher production than prior to the interest of the beekeeper to maintain bees arrival of the Africanized honeybee. that can be worked profitably and with the least amount of disturbance to themselves Following an AHB invasion, a long-term AFRICANIZED and the public. solution must be considered involving intensive selection and hybridization to HONEYBEES The public can play a crucial role by develop a docile or better honeybee. realizing that honeybees are vital . Hopefully, with good research, knowledgeable Bees are the primary pollinating insects in beekeepers and an informed public, the . The value of undesirable traits of the Africanized honeybee pollination of crops, mostly by honeybees, can be genetically altered. exceeds $10 billion annually. Approximately 200 crops are dependant upon or benefit from honeybee pollination. Some South Dakota crops that benefit from honeybee pollination include, alfalfa, buckwheat, canola, legumes, sunflower (pollination directly affects about 25% of the total sunflower yield), safflowers, soybeans, and many fruits and vegetables. Honeybees also help propagate wildflowers and ornamentals, and support wildlife populations by pollinating many plants that provide food and shelter.

It is important to remember that we need our honeybees and we need to correct the FOR MORE INFORMATION, WRITE misinformation that exists about the TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: Africanized honeybee so that the beekeeping industry can continue its South Dakota Department of Agriculture important job of providing pollination Division of Agricultural Services services and producing honey for the Office of Agronomy Services public. If you see bees on flowers, or see 523 E Capitol Avenue – Foss Building Office of in a pasture, realize that the Pierre, SD 57501-3182 beekeeper that owns those bees is doing Agronomy Services you a sweet service. Let the bees do their Phone: 605-773-3796 job. Fax: 605-773-3481 Division of Agricultural To minimize adverse reactions among the general public, it is extremely important to Web: sdda.sd.gov/Ag_Services/ Services educate children and adults about the E-mail: [email protected] honeybee. 5/11 WHAT ARE AFRICANIZED AND EUROPEAN AFRICANIZED VS. EUROPEAN HONEYBEES AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES HONEYBEES? The differences that are most apparent B EEKEEPING IN SOUTH DAKOTA Honeybees are not native to either North or South involve the way Africanized bees behave as a There are roughly 194 registered beekeepers in America, but were brought here by early settlers colony. Unlike the European honeybee, the Africanized honeybee quickly becomes South Dakota. In 2010, there were from Europe to provide pollination and honey. defensive, stings more readily, recruits a approximately 265,000 colonies registered in the That is why we call bee colonies “European larger portion of the hive for defense, and state. In 2010, South Dakota ranked third in Honeybees.” The European honeybees are well the nation in total honey production, producing will pursue intruders for longer distances. An adapted to survive in cold temperate regions of 15.6 million pounds of honey, worth Africanized honeybee rarely attacks unless North America, but have never adapted well to the approximately $24.1 million. provoked, and the venom from a single sting tropics of South and . is no more potent than that of a European Most commercial apiarists in the state are honeybee. migratory, moving their colonies to Southern or In 1957, Brazilian researchers imported honeybees Pacific states each winter for overwintering, from Africa to initiate a breeding program in the The defensive behavior became widely honey production and commercial pollination. hope of improving honey production in the tropical publicized in the media and led to the name “Killer Bees.” The intensity of the attack, Typically, beekeepers going to southern states lowlands of Brazil. Approximately 26 African move a portion of their strongest colonies and used only in defense, greatly contributes to queen bees were accidentally released from its the Africanized honeybee’s survival. These depopulate the remainder to reduce breeding program in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since their transportation and feed costs. The bees traits are not beneficial to maximum honey escape in 1957, the African honeybees proved multiply earlier in the warmer climates, which and wax productions. highly adapted to the tropical conditions in Brazil. allow beekeepers to divide their colonies and to Africanized honeybee colonies are also known establish their original colony count intended for The resulting hybridized wild population quickly to abandon or abscond from their nests when honey production in South Dakota. developed and spread through , threatened by starvation, predators, or other Central America and Mexico, interbreeding with Migratory operators who transport colonies to disturbances. European colonies, however, Pacific Coastal states primarily perform custom and displacing the resident European honeybees. will starve in the hive instead of absconding. pollination. The beekeepers are paid on the We now call these bees “Africanized Honeybees” Africanized bees also swarm more often than basis of the number and strength of bee (AHB) to distinguish these hybrids from the bees European bees. occurs when half colonies. Depopulation of colonies by custom native to Africa. of the colony leaves with the old queen to pollinators is not normal procedure, but rather find a new nesting site and the remaining those producers stimulate the growth of their Migration of Africanized Honeybees half rears a new queen. Swarming is a natural mechanism that bee colonies use to colonies for the pollination circuit of , apples, citrus, pears, etc. prior to returning to reproduce. Extensive swarming reduces a South Dakota. colony’s ability to produce honey. 1990 While in southern or western states, South 1989 Another important difference is the Dakota’s bee colonies could suffer an infestation 1988 1986 Africanized honeybee’s lack of adaptation for northern winters. European bees are of Africanized honeybees. To ensure that South 1984 1987 1977 accustomed to storing large amounts of Dakota’s beekeeping industry continues to 1985 1981 1983 honey necessary to sustain themselves prosper, the hives returning to South Dakota 1982 must contain only European honeybees. The during long winter months. Africanized bees, South Dakota Department of Agriculture restricts coming from the tropics, are not. No one knows how far north the Africanized bee will the spread of Africanized honeybees through 1957 quarantines and certification. The guidelines spread; however, it is unlikely that they will allow operators to migrate into and out of be able to survive winters in South Dakota. Africanized honeybee infested areas only if their breeding stock is certified as European 1977 Africanized honeybees have expanded their range northward and southward since 1957. The rate at which honeybees. they spread is influenced by many factors including weather.