African honeybees, also known as “killer bees,” have been detected in Alabama.
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries shared that local beekeepers collected and humanely euthanized the swarm. The state’s commissioner says that there is no cause for public alarm, but the situation is being taken seriously to protect pollinators, support beekeepers, and ensure public safety.
Anyone noticing unusually aggressive bee behavior has been told to contact the Alabama Department of Agriculture’s Apiary Protection Unit and to not attempt to remove bee colonies yourself.
Related Stories
“That supply-demand scenario is really what’s holding things strong.”
His department will be using a synthetic bait called “Swormlure Five,” which is engineered to smell like an open wound, attracting Screwworm flies to the bait
“We see the opportunity of streamlining the program.”
NCGA estimates that without pesticide use, crop yields could decline by at least 70%.