Frequently Asked Questions
Yes we have had documented cases of Africanized Honey Bees in Lubbock. The number of documented cases of Africanized Bees is a very small percentage of the total number of calls we have received for bees. An aggressive bee hive or swarm does NOT always mean that those bees are Africanized, European Honey Bees can become extremely aggressive if disturbed to a point they feel a need to protect their colony and queen. There is no visible way to distinguish between Africanized Honey Bees and European Honey Bees, samples must be collected and sent to laboratories for genetic testing in order to determine if a bee is Africanized. Africanized Honey Bees ARE inherently more aggressive than European Honey Bees and can be provoked into an attack with very little stimuli. Once Africanized Bees become agitated they can remain in their aggressive state for an extended period and attack repeatedly which can pose severe health risks to people and pets.