Killer Bees
The species that we have chosen to do a project on are the Killer Bees. Killer Bees are commonly known as Africanized Honeybees. The Killer Bees are a hybrid between an African Honeybee and a European Honeybee. Killer Bees are known as "Killer Bees" because they will viciously attack humans or animals who stray into their territory. When they attack they don't attack alone, they attack in a swarm. They attack for a longer period of time. This will result serious injury or death. The Killer Bees are smaller than the European Honeybees and much less effective in pollination. It is not more venomous than the European Honeybees and when it attacks it leaves its stinger and dies after. It is a brownish colour with black stripes and six legs.
killer-bee.jpg

There are many characteristics of the Killer Bee species that make them different from the rest. The fact that the Killer Bee is significantly smaller than the native honeybees in North America and South America makes them easier to classify. While they look the same as the common honeybees that we all know, Killer Bees are noticeably smaller to our eyes. Being small is an advantage to Killer Bees. They are faster as a result of their size. Another advantage to being small is that these bees can escape predators much quicker. Killer Bees don't eat any differently than other bees. They eat nectar (sugar substance) that are in plants.

In 1956, some colonies of African Honeybees were imported to Brazil, with the idea of cross-breeding them to increase honey production. The following year, they have gradually spread northward through South America, Central America, and Eastern Mexico. Killer Bees are expected to continue forming colonies in other parts of the Southern United States.

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Some ways that it can hurt the ecosystem are that Killer Bees attack people, there have been thousands of deaths. Another way is the Killer Bees leave when the weather gets colder so when they leave the honey production gets lower. Beekeepers lose there bees and they don't have as much honey.

There have been different ways on how to control the Killer Bees. Beekeepers have been monitoring the bees and have come up with some solutions for the problem. Here is one of them; beekeepers have been changing the queen bee frequently. Beekeepers make sure that the are mating with the European Honeybee. Another solution is, beekeepers have tried to maintain large numbers of common European Honeybees in areas where commercially-reared queen bees mate. This limits the chances of mating with the Killer Bees. This would bring down the population of the Killer Bees.

The invasion of Killer Bees include some pros and cons. Killer Bees provide pollination for a flower
flora.jpg called Flora. The Flora depends on the bees and the bee depends on the flora for seeds. But it also has its disadvantages. Killer Bees are very vicious and can cause humans and animals injuries or death.

One of the many factors that can slow down the invasion of Killer Bees include the limited nesting opportunities. Another way would be calling for pest control if found near your house.





Bibliography
*http://lt012.k12.sd.us/Community%20G8%20Webactivity/Webpage1%208bees.html
*http://www.pestworldforkids.org/bees.html
*http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/kbees.html
*http://killer-bees.weebly.com/
*http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Apis_mellifera_scutellata.htm
*<http://school.eb.co.uk/levels/high/article/14086>.
Pictures:*https://www.google.ca/



B3.5 Identify various factors related to human activity that have impacted on ecosystems (the introduction of invasive species) and explain how these factors affect the equilibrium in an ecosystem.
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