Africanized honey bees, nicknamed “killer bees” in the media, were documented in Orange County in March of 1999.   All honey bees which are unmanaged or feral (living in the wild), could display “Africanized” traits due to hybridization with Africanized honey bees.  The highly publicized northward migration of the Africanized honey bee has caused all of Southern California and much of the Southwestern United States to be declared home to Africanized Bees.   Over a decade has passed since Africanized honey bees were first reported in the United States. Beekeepers, scientists, pest control operators and government agencies have been educating residents about this issue for a number of years.

For information on the removal of problem bees, contact a private pest control specialist.

University of California, Riverside - Department of Entomology - Insect Information - Africanized Bees in California