ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the colony dynamics of Africanized bees by providing comparisons with their better-known cousins from temperate climates. The key to the success of Africanized bees in South America lies largely within the hive, in their internal colony functions which are exquisitely crafted for success in tropical habitats. Newly hived swarms of European bees initially increase in population more rapidly than do Africanized bees, due to better brood survival and longer adult longevity. Africanized bees in European colonies began foraging at older ages than they did in their own colonies, 23 days on average, but the European workers in Africanized colonies began foraging even earlier than the Africanized bees, at 14 days of age. Africanized honey bees produce a larger percentage of drone comb at small colony sizes than temperate-evolved European races, and within the Africanized bee colonies studied, large colonies invest proportionately more energy in drone production in large than in small colonies.
