Final ARP Essay Word Count: 1,267

Arguing Position Form

ENGL 1121-32
7-28-08

Should we fear the Killer Bee?

The Africanized Honey Bee, also known as the Killer Bee, was developed in

Brazil by scientists who hoped to create a more productive honey bee. To accomplish

this, the scientists traveled to Africa and brought back 63 of the more aggressive African

bees to breed with the more docile, but less productive, European bees. Unfortunately,

some of the queen and worker bees escaped from the laboratory. This new breed of bee

quickly spread throughout South America and moved into the southern United States

(Wall, 1). These bees are much more adept than the European honeybee at self-defense,

and swarming, and have killed people in the past. Regardless, the average American

should not fear the Africanized Honey Bee. The Killer Bee only attacks out of self-

defense; most people do not encounter them regularly; and in case of an attack, one

can survive with a few tips. We should, however, be more cautious when using the

process of genetic engineering that created them.

According to Anita Collins, chief bee scientist at the USDA bee research center in

Texas, the Africanized bees have caused problems in Mexico: Most certainly, the death

figures from bee stings have changed dramatically there since the arrival of the

Africanized bee (Qtd in McClain). But in the United States, the Africanized bee has not

turned out to be as much of a threat as was originally anticipated and reported on

television. During the first two summers when the Africanized bees arrived in America,

no one died (McClain). The Killer Bee never quite lived up to the initial hype about the

hybrid species. Part of the fear of Killer Bees, besides the catchy title, has to do with

the fact that these bees are more aggressive than the European bees we are used to, and

they are known to be relentless in pursuit. According to a Texas Monthly article, A

Texas Survival Kit, Africanized bees have been known to chase people as far as 500

feet. Also, they have been known to wait above the surface of the water for the person

they are pursuing if he or she should decide to dive under the water. It has also been

reported that a swarm of the Africanized bees will sting a victim repeatedly, sometimes

stinging a person over a thousand times during an attack (Dingus).

The horror stories of encounters with Killer Bees, although very powerful, are

very rare. The stories of these bees killing people are, for the most part, quite similar.

Take for example this case in Parker County, Texas:

A Parker County man died this week after being stung more than 200
times by what officials say was a colony of crossbred honeybees and
Africanized bees. Mike Kavanaugh, 56, was stung while mowing a pasture
with his tractor along White Settlement Road in eastern Parker County,
officials said. He was covered from head to toe with bees, his daughter,
Ashley Kavanaugh, 19, of Azle, said Thursday. Mike Kavanaugh, a former
excavation worker, had been partially paralyzed in a horseback riding
accident years ago and had apparently struggled during the attack to return
to his wheelchair. He died at home Monday, a week after the attack and
after being hospitalized twice, officials said. (Bradford, Par 4)

This story illustrates how terrifying an Africanized bee attack can be. Mr. Kavanaughs

main problem, however, was that he was not able to get back into his wheelchair and

escape quickly enough. Other cases where people or livestock have died from

Africanized bee attacks involve some reason why the victim could not escape, such as

livestock being tied up or people seeking shelter in the water.

 Africanized bees, however, are not looking to hunt people. They only attack in

self-defense or to protect the hive, and they can be outrun if you accidentally startle some

of them. They are very territorial, so if you enter their territory they can be very

dangerous, but most Americans do not live in Africanized bees territories; currently

limited to remote areas in Texas, Arizona, Southern California and New Mexico. Killer

Bees have also not turned out to be as dangerous as people thought because they have

been confined to certain climate zones and do not appear to be moving north beyond the

extreme southern part of the United States. Originally, reporters had said that they feared

the bees would spread north, moving at a rate of two to three hundred miles a day. The

bees have slowed down quite a bit, and there are many theories why. Among the theories

most often proposed are those suggesting that the bees do not store enough food for harsh

winter months, fire ants and other pests have begun to prey on them, and that the Killer

Bee gene pool has been diluted because the Africanized bee queen can mate with

European bees (Koerner).

Overall, the only people who should really fear the Killer Bees are beekeepers

and the honey industry, because the Africanized Bees can take over normal honeybees

hives. For the general public, the real concern that the Africanized Honey Bee raises

is the appropriate fear of possible unintended consequences of genetic engineering

or modification of species. Greenpeace has this to say about genetic engineering:

Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-

organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally.
These genetically modified organisms (GMO) can spread through nature
and interbreed with natural organisms, thereby contaminating non 'GE'
environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and
uncontrollable way. (Say no to)
 These bees, much like a non-native species, were able to take over their new

environment that they escaped into. A related concern is the reduction of the worlds

biological diversity. This can lead to extinction of a variety of plant an animal species,

and therefore, can negatively affect human nutrition (Hildyard, 32). Another fear is the

uncertainty of how cross-breading will turn out, and what the side affects may be. The

worst-case scenario that the Killer Bee could have created may become a reality if we

are not extremely careful when taking risks with genetic engineering and species

modification.

Africanized Bees have not turned out to be the Killer Bees that the news media

warned about. They are dangerous, but people do not encounter them very often, and they

appear to be limited to a certain climate range. The real fear that the example of the

Africanized bee raises is the unpredictability and possible dangers of genetic engineering.

The Africanized Bee, or what was originally expected to become the Killer Bee, is a

powerful example of the possible down side to genetic engineering and tampering with

nature.

Works Cited
Bradford, Gale. PARKER MAN DIES AFTER BEE ATTACK. 27 September, 2006.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 26 July, 2006. <
http://www.stingshield.com/2002news.htm>

Dingus, Anne. A TEXAS SURVIVAL KIT. Texas Monthly. 32.10 October, 2004: 124-
132. Proquest. Anoka-Ramsey Community Coll. Lib., Coon Rapids, MN. 13 July,
2006. < http://proquest.umi.com>

Hildyard, Nicholas. Genetic Engineering in Agriculture Whose Risks? Whose Gains?

November, 1998. The Corner House. 19 July, 2006.
<http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/item.shtml?x=52230>

Koerner, Brandon. Why Are Killer Bees So Slow? 24 August, 2004.

Slate. 26 July, 2006. <http://www.slate.com/id/2105698>

McClain, Clara. Some beekeepers believe 'killer bees' are fraud June, 1993.
BeeSource.com. 26 July, 2006.
<http://www.beesource.com/pov/ahb/tcjun93.htm >

Say no to genetic engineering. Green Peace. 26 July, 2006.

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering

Wall, Anthony. Lessons From Nature Episode 1 -- Killer Bees. Ecologist. 35.8 October,
2005: 54-55. Proquest. Anoka-Ramsey Community Coll. Lib., Coon Rapids, MN.
13 July, 2006. < http://proquest.umi.com>