Africanized honeybee

[ af-ri-kuh-nahyzd huhn-ee-bee ]

noun

1. a hybrid of the African and European honeybees produced by the mingling of domesticated European colonies with an African colony of notably defensive honeybees. Soon after Africanized honeybees were introduced to an experimental apiary in Brazil in 1956, they escaped into North America, where they continue to spread northward from the American Southwest.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Africanized honeybee¹

First recorded in 1970–75; Africaniz(e) ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Some bees are more aggressive than others, including the Africanized honeybee, or killer bee, whose swarms can lead to a fatal volume of stings.

From Washington Times

Experts say the state is dealing with the Africanized honeybee, also known as the killer bee, which is a crossbreed between the European honeybee and the African honeybee.

From The Guardian

The Africanized honeybee is a hybrid of the European bee and the African bee.

From Washington Times

Experts point to the Africanized honeybee, also known as the killer bee, which is a crossbreed between the European honeybee and the African honeybee, said Reed Booth, who runs a bee-removal business in Bisbee in southern Arizona.

From Washington Times

Booth said he has also witnessed a behavioral shift in the Africanized honeybee, with their aggressiveness going “through the roof.”

From Washington Times