So folks, kind of hard to judge, just how far north are the AHB? Are they further North along the coasts where there is more mild weather? Or, instead is it a latitude?
up to southern Utah in Mountain West area. (Iron County)
I hope our friends in Tennessee stop them at the mason dixon line.
At some point, one has to wonder how wise it is to allow packages from the south to be shipped all over the north in the spring. I sure don't want those genetics getting up here.
Is it time for more REGULATION of the bee business?
We have 'nuff regulations from the dictatorship.
Is Iron County still South of Spanish Fork?
How far North in California?
Made it to Virginia yet?
What about the central US, Colorado, do you have them?
Quote from: JackM on June 06, 2013, 09:03:35 AM
How far North in California?
http://cisr.ucr.edu/africanized_honey_bee.html (http://cisr.ucr.edu/africanized_honey_bee.html)
I've heard of sitings in Arkansas and Oklahoma and rumors of them in southern Kansas.
.
Current Reported Status of Small Hive Beetle - 2012 March.
There some findings in Canada too
Green = not found
(http://wadesbees.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/small-hive-beetle-distribution.jpg)
Iron County, Utah is about 200 miles south of Spanish Fork, Utah.
In Florida they have been staying south of I-4. They come north from time to time but that is because they were brought north by a beekeeper. They do not seem to survive the cold winters. Georgia had a swarm that was brought north from south of I-4 but they have not survive there.
I question whether the AHB on the map were tested and verified or maybe they were just overly aggressively bees that were having to constantly protect their hive.
I ran into a very aggressive hive in Bermuda in the 1974. My brothers were attacked by a hive that was 50 feet away. We could hear the alarm go off and we were never even close to the hive. My dad and I stood still and watched them chase my brothers who ran. They were not AHB.
Jim
Note the map is SHBeetle not AHB
Map of AHB as of 2009 according to National Atlas (http://nationalatlas.gov/mld/afrbeep.html)
(http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/nietssemaj/2009AHBMap.png) (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/nietssemaj/media/2009AHBMap.png.html)
It is difficult to find a map any more recent than 2010. It seems people (and researchers) have lost interest.
Quote from: JackM on June 06, 2013, 09:03:35 AM
We have 'nuff regulations from the dictatorship.
X:X X:X X:X
!!!!!AMEN!!!!!
Quote from: Michael Bush on June 06, 2013, 02:40:46 PM
It is difficult to find a map any more recent than 2010. It seems people (and researchers) have lost interest.
During a presentation by Dr Jamie Ellis of the University of Florida last year I recall him saying that in Florida, AHB haven't moved much further north than Ocala FL. At least in feral populations they haven't. There have been of course isolated cases, mostly in port cities.
I'm trying to remember where I heard him say that and see if there is a recording of it. For the life of me I can't find it.
With that map, I find it quite interesting that they are reaching parts of Arizona and New Mexico that do have severe freezing winters. Not sure bout the southern Sierra's. Cold does seem to be reducing the advance compared to previous years.
I just saw a recent documentary on youtube, presented by the state of South Carolina. They have AHB there. May have entered at the ports. I live in eastern NC, and so far we don't have an official presence of AHB in this state. It's just a matter of time in most people's opinion.
I see the map for Small Hive beetle. Shows no sign of shb in eastern NC. Come out and look in my hive! I did a cut out last month from an old house that has had bees in it for 10+ years. When I opened the wall, there were plenty of small hive beetles in that feral colony. Now they are in my yard. Getting some traps tonight.
I don't understand the comments or idea that AHB can't survive in North Florida because of winters yet AHB are doing fine in other states where it gets even colder and snows...
I think it was on the NPR thread I started where they were talking about AHB and their range where they come from or are in some spot of the world where it really is cold and they are surviving.
I would guess that humidity plays a large part in that. The lower humidity keeps the hive drier in the winter and prevents chilling. Of course that is based on my somewhat limited knowledge of bees and their behavior.
I don't know why it is but the north florida bee inspector says they don't really see and AHB here and they do testing if there is any question. Is it the cold? humidity? natural competition from local bees? who knows.
At least for me, I am glad they are not.
Looking at their range in Africa it appears they like dry ish climate but thriving in Brazil and south Florida throws me off. Might be onto something with cold humidity as I look at their range but that could take a turn one day mixing with EHB. (Thanks for the insight)
And when the genetics mix to allow them to survive in Michigan, New Hampshire, and Maine, then what?