This finding, according to Tsutsui, is important because the spread of Africanized bees northward from South America in recent years has had some negative consequences; not only are these bees more dangerous to humans because of their propensity to sting in large numbers, but they are also difficult to rear commercially for pollination and the production of honey and other products. The information gained from this study can be used to compare markers between Africanized and non-Africanized bees, which would allow for the identification of genes that lend these "killer" bees their aggressive characteristics. Once those genes are identified, the more dangerous bees can be bred to lose those characteristics.

The National Research Council recently issued a report stating that pollinators, such as the honeybee, are on the decline, and one reason is the encroachment of the Africanized bee into the U.S. According to the report, in order to bear fruit, three-quarters of all flowering plants rely on pollinators for fertilization. For example, in California alone, it takes about 1.4 million colonies of honeybees to pollinate 550,000 acres of almond trees.