Welcome, Guest

Author Topic: African mixed bees?  (Read 9726 times)

Offline sarafina

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 340
  • Gender: Female
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #40 on: August 26, 2010, 12:54:48 pm »
After living in the desert southwest for 20 years, I've found that Africanized bees are not that much more aggressive unless they are mishandled

That was not my experience, but it was only one hive.  They would come after me for just taking the top cover off and I don't consider that "mishandling".  Smoking didn't seem to make them any calmer.  Re-queening fixed everything.   :)

Offline Jim134

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3045
  • Gender: Male
    • Franklin County Beekeepers Association
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #41 on: August 26, 2010, 03:41:20 pm »
sarafina ......

Did you have a DNA test on the hive  :?


 I have had aggressive bees in the 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 00s may be African mixed bees?  :evil:

   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline CountryBee

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 329
  • Gender: Male
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #42 on: August 26, 2010, 06:19:00 pm »
When I get the results of my test and if it is negative I will get them tested, if not I will let dad destroy them.  Can't chance someone getting hurt.

Offline CountryBee

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 329
  • Gender: Male
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #43 on: August 27, 2010, 09:20:47 pm »
Just got my results back, I am now allergic to honey bees.  Must sell all my hives, anyone wanna buy?

Offline Kathyp

  • Global Moderator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 20339
  • Gender: Female
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #44 on: August 27, 2010, 11:00:51 pm »
that sucks.  is there anything they can offer to desensitize you to the bee stings? 
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline CountryBee

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 329
  • Gender: Male
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #45 on: August 27, 2010, 11:18:05 pm »
No, they said I was a 6.9 so that somehow I am very allergic to honey bees now!  So I have to get allergy shots and always have an epipen with me at all times the doctor told me today.  Hopefully the bees will have a good home. :'(

Offline lenape13

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 612
  • Gender: Male
  • We survive together, or not at all!
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #46 on: August 28, 2010, 12:25:43 am »
Sorry about your dilemma.  If I lived closer, I'd take your girls and give them a great home.

Offline CountryBee

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 329
  • Gender: Male
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #47 on: August 28, 2010, 08:37:41 am »
Wife said I gotta sell them all now.  Man this is bad. :(  But she explained to me that it was like keeping a dangerous animal around me.  I understand her, she wishes that I wasn't because she knows how much I love the bees.  Now I have to pick up another hobby.  Country

Offline sarafina

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 340
  • Gender: Female
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #48 on: August 28, 2010, 11:17:44 am »
I am so sorry Country.  I know this is hard on you and I hope you find a good home for your bees.

Offline CountryBee

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 329
  • Gender: Male
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #49 on: August 28, 2010, 01:55:51 pm »
Thank you sarafina.

Offline FRAMEshift

  • Super Bee
  • *****
  • Posts: 1681
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #50 on: August 28, 2010, 02:42:39 pm »
I have also just had a test showing I am allergic to honey bee venom.   I'm getting 6 months of shots and after that will need to make sure I get stung once a month to keep the tolerance up.  Sorry that's not an option for you because I sure would not like to give up my bees.
"You never can tell with bees."  --  Winnie-the-Pooh

Offline CountryBee

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 329
  • Gender: Male
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #51 on: August 28, 2010, 02:53:26 pm »
Three times to the emergency room this month, I thought insulation, then a horsefly, then I knew it was a bee!  I thought maybe it was a different kind of honey bee, I was stupid!  Now the doctor said that I have to carry that pen around with me if I go camping and I have an appointment with an allergy specialist for shot(s).  But I already called the allergist and he said he can't make me tolerant of them.  He wouldn't say why.  He said he had to mix up something with bee venom when I come and it will help me if I get stung with time to get me epipen shot in the leg again, then go to emergency room for steroids.  Fun, fun. :-D  I just have to go find another hobby, maybe grow ginseng?  Country :)

Offline Jim134

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3045
  • Gender: Male
    • Franklin County Beekeepers Association
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #52 on: August 28, 2010, 03:02:30 pm »
I hope you can find another hobby you like.


       BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline Apis_M_Rescue

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 148
  • Gender: Male
  • Pollinating So Cal
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #53 on: August 28, 2010, 03:19:46 pm »
Hi Country,
Gotta do whats best for you & family, no doubt. Regret to hear as you are passionate toward those furry flying ladies. Sounds like you had a great ride & keep those great memories w/ the honey bees regardless. All the best in your uplifting pursuits.

David S in southern California  :bee:
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24

Offline CountryBee

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 329
  • Gender: Male
Re: African mixed bees?
« Reply #54 on: August 28, 2010, 03:27:51 pm »
You are all great friends, thank you. Country :)