African bee
nounDefinition of African bee
1
: a honeybee native to Africa
specifically
: one (Apis melliferascutellata) native to sub-Saharan Africa that aggressively defends its hive and was introduced into Brazil in the 1950s where it subsequently hybridized with the European honeybee to produce Africanized bees
Scientists wanted a bee that … could tolerate the tropical climate, like the African bee. — Elizabeth Fitzsimons, San Diego Union Tribune, 4 Oct. 2002
2
: africanized bee
Southern California is beginning to see an increase of African bees, and beekeepers all over the state are on the front lines of defense …— Debbie Croft, Merced (California) Sun-Star, 24 Apr. 2010