fear spreading - watch this

tlynn · April 10, 2009, 10:12:45 AM

All the bees in your house are africanized!

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-241592

Daddys Girl · April 10, 2009, 04:18:57 PM

Oh yeah. I saw that fiasco.

Then again, aren't all swarms considered AHB in Florida?

patook · April 10, 2009, 05:23:52 PM

I doubt he actually tested the bees to see if they were africanized.

eri · April 10, 2009, 05:27:13 PM

"The State of Florida to keep control of the AHB, also advises that all feral bees should be considered "Africanized" and eradicated." william sklaroff (williethebeeman)

Sounds as if the messages in Florida are mixed -- this guy was interviewed on NPR. The closest statement from a government site I have found says that if a feral colony is confirmed AHB it must be requeened with EHB and it is illegal to keep a managed AHB hive. That's different from "should be considered Africanized" and "should be eradicated."

mudlake · April 10, 2009, 06:16:51 PM

Just what I would want that beep spraying all that beep all over my beeping property. I am so tired of people that have Dr. in front of their name know everything. I notice he did not say Dr. of ???. We have people around here that spray just in case we might have some bugs. Misinformed people misinforming more people. Sounds like some of the elected people around here. By the way I don't swear (out loud) but I do have some choice thoughts when I see someone being "Cute". If that spray dropped those bees that quickly, I don't think I would want it sprayed on my property. I have said enough Tony

eri · April 10, 2009, 06:24:58 PM

Quote from: mudlake on April 10, 2009, 06:16:51 PM
I notice he did not say Dr. of ???.

He did say. Entomologist. Look here: http://shalompest.homestead.com/

The fact that he's an entomologist alarmed me.

SgtMaj · April 10, 2009, 06:26:29 PM

Yeah, I'm sure all those pesticides he sprayed are going to be a LOT better for his family and dogs than simply calling a real professional instead of this jerk. :roll: I'm just glad I know how much this is going to cost the homeowner once all that honey attracts other pests and eventually destroys the structure, since no respectable beek will help him remove that stuff now.

HAB · April 10, 2009, 06:30:09 PM

Just another nail in the coffin. :'( :'( :'(

buzzbee · April 10, 2009, 08:23:30 PM

By "Owen G O'malley the Storyteller"
Story teller is about right.

Brian D. Bray · April 11, 2009, 01:26:10 AM

I thought it sarcasitically humorous that he advertised his company Shalom Pest Control and made a pitch for funding on his invention that would prevent bees from settling into homes.

That's the real story, the guys a money hunter and probably only studied entomology to learn how to kill insects.

SgtMaj · April 11, 2009, 03:24:52 AM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on April 11, 2009, 01:26:10 AMThat's the real story, the guys a money hunter and probably only studied entomology to learn how to kill insects.

Very typical of the pest control industry. I'd wager that even with a phD he knows less than most 6 year olds about any other aspect of bugs other than how to kill them.

JP · April 11, 2009, 10:27:44 AM

Quote from: SgtMaj on April 11, 2009, 03:24:52 AM
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on April 11, 2009, 01:26:10 AMThat's the real story, the guys a money hunter and probably only studied entomology to learn how to kill insects.

Very typical of the pest control industry. I'd wager that even with a phD he knows less than most 6 year olds about any other aspect of bugs other than how to kill them.

I'd be willing to wager that you're wrong. One does not pursue an entomology degree because they want to kill insects.

Entomology is the study of insects, insects most of us don't even have a clue exists. It takes a special "bug freak" type of individual to pursue a degree in entomology.

I am a licensed pest control operator. I live in the land of bugs down here in southeast Louisiana. There are a ton of pest companies here and very, very few are lead by someone with an entomology degree.

Dr. Greg Henderson of Louisiana State University was hired by the state of Louisiana to study and implement solutions to our Formosan termite problem.

He was hired because of his love for social insects, ants particularly. He was able to secure a federal grant to initiate a tree treating program to combat Formosans that were eating our trees.

He was one of the first to team with others to develop and test termite baiting systems.

He continues to teach and study insects to this day.

Now getting back to the video. First and foremost, people need to be kept safe. The guy in the video thinks he is doing the right thing, afterall africanized bees can be very aggressive.

I think he needs to take up beekeeping however. Once he got under their spell as Cindi would say, I believe he would be finding ways to save them rather than simply kill all feral colonies that are suspect.

I believe in sampling until proven guilty. If ahb, then requeen, unless people are in eminent danger.

It looks to me the bees in the video could have been saved, they did not appear aggressive.

Florida is a kill all feral bee state. Until that changes and other alternatives are sought this kind of crap will continue.

Give 'em he!! Brendhan!

...JP

eri · April 11, 2009, 10:48:46 AM

That was a thoughtful response, JP.

I read through some of the stuff on Dr. Warner's website. His area of specialization is white-footed ants!

However, he has a large section on "Killer Bees" in which he emphasizes the dangers (articles about deaths) and cites studies that show that attempts to interbreed AHB with EHB are futile in decreasing aggressiveness. He also seems to have the personal opinion that "everything" is organic (met a chemist like that years ago who wanted to argue with me about "organic" farming). He claims your babies and your pets don't have to worry about his pesticides. People are people, and, as they say, everyone has an opinion.

Out of curiosity about the current policies of one of our local oldest, family-owned local pest control services, I contacted them last year and asked about their approach to honey bee removal. The response was they first try to save the bees and exterminate as a last resort or by specific demand of the homeowner. We don't have AHB in NC, so the pest control companies here are not under the same pressure as I imagine those in AHB states are from government regulation. Still, I was pleased to hear that they are sensitive to preservation and are conveying that approach to their customers.

Bee Happy · April 11, 2009, 08:12:31 PM

I can't post on the ireport site. if I could I would have told the guy - he's probably going to still have the expense of a cutout because (as a poster already mentioned) the wax, brood, and honey are still there.
Dr.________ (forgotten already) claims his PHD was on some kind of ant.
I guess for him it's more about the fee for killing a swarm than bringing honey bees home.
sad all the way around - he could have just as easily charged a lesser service call to tell the guy to call an apiarist - or call a trusted one himself.
Sadly - there's always someone willing to perpetuate very bad information for a quick buck and an increase in (falsely earned) reputation.

DayValleyDahlias · April 11, 2009, 09:15:15 PM

despicable !!

wish i knew how to leave a twitter response

tlynn · April 11, 2009, 10:56:44 PM

From his site here's a link to a Fox piece with him again claiming the bees in somebody's wall are Africanized. This guy needs to be shut down.

http://shalompest.homestead.com/B_interview_3Jan08_WMV.WMV