Africanized Bees Beekeepers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas are facing the problems of Africanized bees first hand, and other U.S. beekeepers are feeling the effects as well. As an area becomes Africanized, beekeepers' management problems multiply. Queens must be replaced more frequently. Apiary sites are more difficult to obtain as landowners shy away from having bees on their property. Some local governments are considering bans on keeping bees within their jurisdictions.
Public relations becomes a priority.
Labor costs escalate. Even in areas which will not be invaded by Africanized bees for several years, if ever, beekeepers are facing public relations and landowner problems. In addition, several state universities have bee research programs. The top research priorities of the industry are the parasitic mites and Africanized bees. Different aspects of these problems are being studied at most of the research institutions.