Africanized bees found in East Tennessee
VONORE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee agricultural officials say a colony of partially Africanized bees, which are more aggressive than domestic honey bees, have been found in East Tennessee.
The Tennessee Agriculture Department said in a news release that the bees were found last week in a colony belonging to a beekeeper in Monroe County. State Apiarist Mike Studer said these bees have been found in other states, but this is the first time they have been found in Tennessee.
He said they will work with beekeepers to monitor their hives and look for other aggressive bees.
The biggest difference between Africanized honey bees and European honey bees is their behavior, which includes fiercely defending their nests. The sting from a single Africanized bee is no more venous than an European honey bee.
