AHB are coming

[TwT]

a new map showing there progression.

http://www.stingshield.com/all-us.htm

[Ross]

All that map shows is that at least one AHB hive was found at least once.  Many of those supposed AHB hives were never DNA tested.  Many areas no longer test at all.  I wouldn't put much stock at all in any of the maps. 

[Duck1968]

It looks to me like that site is trying to use fear to sell their veils with the links to every sting or swarm story they could find.

Brian

[Rebel Rose Apiary]

I was watching a program about 'deadly creatures' found in the US last night on either NatGeo or maybe Animal Planet...not sure which one. They showed a map that had Kansas included as a state where those killer bees were now being found.

We had all better start buying those veils before they are sold out! :-D

Seriously, it is going to be up to us beekeepers to be the ones who actually do something about controling them in the US, as we are the ones who must know when to requeen, etc. to make sure that they are not entering our own apiaries.

It is sad that things like this will only make it harder to get the public to understand our hives are not as dangerous as they are led to believe.

Brenda

[MustbeeNuts]

what a cheap looking gimic to sell the scared and uninformed.

[BruinnieBear]

Don't see a problem with the safety device.  The map, maybe.

I'm sure protective services and other first responders are well-prepared in effected areas.  Why not emergency gear for utility and other outdoor workers?  The emergency veil is not intended for anything other than to buy a little time to get to safety.

Good old American business sense.  Find a niche and market!  ... and while you're at it, pray for the unprepared!

BB

[eivindm]

Living in Europe where AHB are not present I don't know too much about this.  I read on Wikipedia: "Cannot survive extended periods of forage deprivation, preventing introduction into areas with harsh winters or extremely dry late summers.".  How is the over wintering if they are in a hive?  Will they do fine if a beekeeper have them in a hive, or do they overwinter badly there too?

Sorry, but I couldn't help humming this when I read the title of this topic:
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
AHB are coming to town

They're making a list,
Checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
AHB are coming to town

[BeeHopper]

No such bee that AHB, it's just a little mean bee as nature has intended it to be. ( say that 3 times real fast )  :evil:

[gaucho10]

I attended the Northeast Treatment Free Beekeeping Conference and one of the topics revolved around AHB.  Basically there is no such thing unless you believe the government.  It could be a coverup and I think it might have something to do with the chemical companies.  It might even involve greedy veil dealers as well :evil: 
Just like there is talk about the personality of a rottweiler dog.  It is a killer that likes to bite people and loves the taste of young children.  This all depends on the owner and how the dog was brought up.  Does that dog have a questionable personality?  Perhaps it does.  So do bees.  We have had similar bees as AHB since the 30's.
If anyone is interested in doing a little reading check the following website: beesource.com and look for "Point of View".  Got to do a little searching but then you will find all sorts of neat information.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

I bought some nucs last year out of Texas, this year one of them turned meaner than I wanted to deal with.  I sent samples off to be tested and sure enough they turned out to be 'Africanized'.  I thought it was going to be a big deal and was prepared to toast the entire hive, actually I was disappointed they didn't want me to destroy them because of how vicious they were.

Instead they said that pinching the queen as I had already had done was all I need to do.  Since there is no AHB drones in my area (yet), that there was no worry of spreading AHB into the feral population.

[bee-nuts]

"Since there is no AHB drones in my area (yet), that there was no worry of spreading AHB into the feral population."

That makes as much sense as when Bill Clinton said (well that depends on what the definition of is, is).

I would burn the AHB out of em like a good ol witch craft burning like days past.  LOL

I have to say though, it is surprising that the AHB have not spread faster and in more scattered spots.

Like bill people get Africanized packages all over the states, every year.  By nature they are swarmy little suckers.  So you would think they would be all over the place.  There must be something to the idea that they can not survive much farther than there present range.  Beyond that there genetics must get thined out easily or something.  Think about it. 

Say I got a ahb package in spring.  they are supposed to throw swarms like crazy.  So say before I realize there killers they swarm and I never notice.  I pinch and requeen.  Now theres a feral AHB Hive.  There drones beat others to the virgins, its a fact.  So theres that risk now.  There also swarmy so they will still throw couple swarms.  Each swarm may throw a swarm or two.  From what I read they can swarm seven or eight times a year.  So next year you could easily have 5 hives in spring, times say 5 and you got 25 plus there drones spreading the terror.  Anyway I just think we are lucky they have not spread faster and farther or maybe they have spread farther but we just dont realize it.

Id also like to know where they were supposedly introduced before.  If they introduce in the north and didn't make it, thats fantastic news. 

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Hopefully I can explain what the bee scientist meant.  She said that since drones do not have fathers, the European queen that had mated with the AHB drone in Texas will not produce AHB drones.  Only the female workers are Africanized, so pinching the queen solves the problem.  Without pure AHB drones there can be no expansion into the area.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

As to the idea that they may not be able to withstand the cold of the north;
I attended a bee club meeting a couple of years ago when the northward march was on and everyone was talking about AHB invading the state.  During a round table discussion the hypothesis was put out that the AHB have a wider comb spacing for better ventilation in the warmer climates, so it was thought that they have greater difficulty in keeping the hive warm in cold climates and more inclined to freeze out.

I don't know if this holds any merit since I use nine frame spacing throughout my hives and European bees tolerate that just fine.

[Grid]

I live in Canada, so perhaps my geographical distance from the issue makes me complacent.  Still, I think there is no real issue.  Brazilian beekeepers actually PREFER the AHB nowadays.

I am a new poster, so my URL link failed.  Look for "beebusters dot com slash abj_note dot html".  Some interesting reading about the AHB.

Here is my take on it.  I did not originate the thoughts below, but I think I agree with them.

In Europe, bee keeping has been practiced for many years.  In Africa, it seems that historically bee robbing was practiced more than bee keeping.  Also, the predators of bees in Africa are aggressive.  The European bees became more gentle, the product of unnatural selection - man selectively bred to include gentleness and exclude defensiveness (aggression).  The African bees are more defensive - they are the product of natural selection, which bred for traits opposite to the European bees.

It has been roughly 50 years since the AHB was first released in the Americas.  Only 50 years, and already they are preferred by beekeepers in Brazil.  Sounds like the beginning of some healthy unnatural selection.  :)

Perhaps in another 50 years, if I am still alive, I may be keeping some strain of Russian/African/Ontario bee up here in the cold.  :)

Cheers,
Grid.