N° 24 of 101 · The Relentless Swarm
Africanized Honey Bee
Apis mellifera scutellata
Not Naturally Occurring
The AHB is a human-made hybrid.
Attack in Overwhelming Numbers
When their nest is disturbed, AHB colonies will mobilize a dramatically larger proportion of their population for defense—sometimes up to 10 times more bees than a European colony would deploy.
Nesting Flexibility
They are highly adaptable and swarm more frequently than their European counterparts.
Field notes
| Range | South, Central, and North America |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Workers: 15 to 40 days during the active |
| Size | Typically 10 to 13 mm |
| Weight | Very light, similar to European honey bees |
| Colour | Very similar to European honey bees |
| Diet | Nectar and Pollen |
| Family | A hybrid population of the western honey bee |
In the book
The Africanized Honey Bee is number 24 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
