South Carolina dodges bullet with Africanized bees

Additional extensive testing has concluded that a hive of suspected Africanized bees in Charleston County were predominantly the less volatile European honeybees.  The Department of Plant Industry at Clemson University announced that the hive was destroyed in May after the bees attacked the beekeeper and other bystanders over the course of several days–sending one person to the hospital.  Testing at facilities in Arizona and Florida returned initial test results indicating a 93 and 95% probability that the hive was comprised of Africanized bees.  “More extensive genetic testing of the bees was requested, which took nearly four more weeks, but we’re happy to report that the final results came in confirming the hive as European,” said Brad Cavin of the Department of Plant Industry. The department is preparing to invest in a laboratory that will allow for genetic testing of bees locally to speed such identification in the future.