In the 1950s, a Brazilian geneticist set out to develop a hybrid honey bee that would be both hardy enough for the tropical climates of Central and South America and highly productive. This case study follows the story of that experiment—and how it went wrong—resulting in the release of aggressive African honey bees. These bees interbred with European honey bees, producing hybrids that spread throughout South and Central America and into the southern United States. The case begins by examining the traits of the two ecotypes and asks students to design a breeding plan aimed at achieving the desired outcome of hardy, productive honey bees. It then follows the consequences of the accidental release, demonstrating how this ultimately provided an opportunity to better understand behavioral genetics. Originally developed for an upper-level animal behavior course, the case is also well suited for courses in evolution and genetics. It could also be adapted for introductory biology students with a background in natural selection and basic Mendelian inheritance.