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Incident Record

First confirmed Africanized honey bees in Louisiana near Rodessa

Louisiana officials reported that Africanized honey bees were first discovered in the state in July 2005 after USDA confirmed samples taken in June from a swarm trap near Rodessa in north Caddo Parish. The finding was described as the first case of Africanized bees entering Louisiana through natural range expansion.

Record ID: LA-CADDO-2005-0701
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This record is part of a first-pass incident research dataset. Records, categories, and source notes may be updated as additional information is reviewed and verified.
Date 2005-07
Location Rodessa, LA, Caddo County, LA
State LA
Record Type Detection / Public Advisory
Trigger / Activity Detection / Public Advisory
Severity Public Safety Incident
Bee ID Status Confirmed Africanized
Aggression Classification Detection / Public Advisory

Incident Summary

Louisiana officials reported that Africanized honey bees were first discovered in the state in July 2005 after USDA confirmed samples taken in June from a swarm trap near Rodessa in north Caddo Parish. The finding was described as the first case of Africanized bees entering Louisiana through natural range expansion.

Public-Safety Lesson

Early detections and trap-line reports matter because they document establishment before severe local attacks become widely reported.

Impact Flags

Human Fatality No
Human Hospitalized No
Animal Fatality No
Responder Involved No

Source Information

Source: Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry via ScienceDaily / Associated Press

Source Strength: A - Official / Government