There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven to nine recognized families, though many are undescribed and the actual number is probably higher. About 4,000 species in the United States.
Of these, the only bee used extensively for both honey and pollenization is the European honey bee. Because it is vulnerable to parasites and diseases, an effort was made to cross breed it with the hardier African honey bee, which were introduced in Brazil, escaped, and now are known as “killer bees”.
Interestingly, killer bees *are* healthier and stronger, and their honey is quite delicious, if rare, so the research was going in the right direction. It is believed that with further cross breeding, they can be made less aggressive.
With Beespar?