- Five years ago, the so-called "killer bee" arrived in the United States. So far, they are a problem in four states: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of southern California. Daniel talks with bee expert Anita Collins - at the U.S.D.A. bee lab in Beltsville, Maryland - about the threat killer bees pose to humans. Researchers refer to regular North American bees as "Europeanized" bees and the so-called killer bee as "Africanized." These Africanized bees are defensive and will not bother humans or animals unless their home is disturbed - it's then that they behave aggressively. Cold weather keeps Africanized bees out of most U.S. states.
Copyright 1996 NPR