Invasion of the killer bee: an historical examination of governmental, agency, and beekeeper response to Africanized honeybee colonization in the southern United States

Abstract

This study is an exploration of the effects that the migration of Africanized honeybees has had on the beekeeping industry in the southern U.S. The Africanized honeybee has had a disruptive effect on agriculture and beekeeping during its long migration from Brazil where it was released in 1954 to most of the southern U.S. Utilizing both historical-comparative and qualitative interview methods, an applying a theoretical framework of food regimes, technological lock-in theory, and Bourdieu's concept pf Habitus, this study explores how this bee has impacted both beekeeping and agricultural systems, and why it is such a bad fit for U.S. farming. The findings from this study help to define not just how this bee is a bad fit for farming, but also illuminates why our farming practices may be incredibly detrimental to our managed honeybee colonies upon which we depend.