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Author Topic: Not killer bees  (Read 2054 times)

Offline Understudy

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Not killer bees
« on: March 02, 2007, 08:40:14 am »
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/03/02/m1c_slbees_0302.html

Gosh, the press seem almost disappointed that they weren't killer bees.

I should have put this in the thread that started it.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=7863.0

Sincerely,
Brendhan
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible

Offline empilolo

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Re: Not killer bees
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2007, 11:10:42 am »
Media hype. I now have been in contact with a lot of African Bees and I simply cannot confirm their over-agressiveness. However. I would not take one of our CAT dozers to visit my hives either.

Offline Understudy

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Re: Not killer bees
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2007, 12:33:01 pm »
Media hype. I now have been in contact with a lot of African Bees and I simply cannot confirm their over-agressiveness. However. I would not take one of our CAT dozers to visit my hives either.

African Honey Bees are common to your environment and have been for ages. The problem in the US is they are a recent item (approximately 50 years) and most people do not know how to handle them. Also when a AHB swarm moves into a tree or something in someone's house and that person mows their lawn the sound of the mower sets off a defensive reaction. AHBs are no more poisonous the normal European honeybees the thing is AHBs are much more aggressive in their defense of hives. So while 15 stings is not a big deal 1500 stings is a very big deal.

And most US citizens let alone beekeepers have no idea how to properly handle AHB hives, myself included in that.  The problem is the US media acts like it needs to justify it's existence in some cases by spreading fear uncertainty and doubt (FUD). While there have been real AHB attacks and deaths (less than 25). The media now makes it seem like every feral swarm in the southern US is an AHB hive.

I would love to know what kind of bees you raise and how you handle them. I have been reading about some of the different bees in Africa including the lazy cape bee which is killing off AHBs. Please if you have time tell us about your bees. I remember reading you use KTBH hives but I cannot remember the number of hives or the type of bees you deal with.

Sincerely,
Brendhan
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible