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How to Reproduce an African Honey Bee

The African honey bee originates in central and south Africa. Beekeepers hybridized these wild bees with the Cape honey bee and termed them Africanized honey bees or killer bees. Brazilian beekeepers imported Africanized honey bees into Brazil in 1956, with the intention to breed a bee better adapted to the tropics of South America. These aggressive bees thrived as they are highly adaptive. African honey bees reproduce as other bee types do. Beekeepers need to be aware, though, that this species of bee is more aggressive than other bee types.

Things You'll Need

Beekeeping license (optimal)
Fully equipped beehive
Protective clothing
African honey bees, including queen bee
Five trays or supers

Instructions

- 1
  Contact your local United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office, if you live in the U.S., to check if there are any restrictions to keeping bees in your area. Request the contact details of beekeeping organizations in you state.
- 2
  Register as a beekeeper, should this be required of you for the area in which you live.
- 3
  Obtain and position your beehive in a protected area of the yard or garden. Site the hive away from boisterous family activity and ensure that it is not exposed to strong winds.
- 4
  Purchase beekeeping gear for your own protection. Be aware that the African honey bee is more aggressive that other bee species.
- 5
  Install at least five supers or trays in the hive or box. Position these trays between the bottom and top of the hive. Supers are used not only for the holding of honey, but are areas in which young bees grow and mature.
- 6
  Order your bees from an apiary during January or February. Your bees will be shipped during March and April.
- 7
  Place the tiny container, in which the queen bee was transported, into the hive. The worker bees will release the queen by chewing through the candy plug that was placed over the entrance hole to the traveling container.
- 8
  Allow the drones and queen to leave the hive and mate in the air, as attempted forced mating of bees by the beekeeper in the confines of the hive are not successful.
- 9
  Protect the hive and do not disturb it unnecessarily. After mating, the queen will lay eggs from which the worker bees will hatch. These bees will leave the hive in search of pollen and, provided nothing interferes with the hive, the bees will produce honey and continue to reproduce naturally.

Insects & Science