I recently bought some honey bees with the intention that they can be used
to pollinate the fruit trees and plants in my area. I purchased Africanized
honeybees because they were cheaper then the European variety.

Has anyone here had any experience with them? What sort of honey yield can I
expect from a midsized colony? One of my concerns is potential liability
with the keeping of bees in a semi-residential neighborhood.

Maurice Gibb

"Snooze" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I recently bought some honey bees with the intention that they can be used
to pollinate the fruit trees and plants in my area. I purchased
Africanized
honeybees because they were cheaper then the European variety.

Has anyone here had any experience with them? What sort of honey yield can
I
expect from a midsized colony? One of my concerns is potential liability
with the keeping of bees in a semi-residential neighborhood.

Maurice Gibb


Hello,

You may find this interesting and instructive, I hope.
As well, I hope you have a great umbrella policy as a homeowner...
if anyone in your neighborhood starts a lawnmower, or a leaf blower
or any some such, who do you think they will sue if attacked by these
less than friendly bees? As a person with very little chance to survive
a bee sting (I have been hospitalized for 17 days with 10 of those days
inside a respirator as a result of a sting) I certainly would like to know
that a potentially life threatening issue is in my back yard.

Ethically and economically I would think that it would end being less
expensive to you to secure some European bees.

Allegra

"What are Africanized Honeybees (AHBs)?In 1956, honeybees from Africa were
imported into Brazil for genetic studies to try to improve the local
European strain of honeybees. In 1957, these AHBs escaped and began to breed
with wild and domestic honeybees. Since then, these AHBs have extended their
range northward into Central and North America. In 1990, AHBs reached the
United States (U.S.) and in October 1993, AHBs were at California's southern
border. AHBs are now established throughout Southern California.How do AHBs
differ from other bees?AHBs and European Honeybees (EHBs) look and behave in
much the same way.

However, there are important differences. AHBs are highly aggressive and
very protective of their colony. Vibration or noise, such as a lawn mower or
chain saw, within100 feet of AHBs often incites them to attack. Movement,
such as children playing,within 50 feet can also precipitate an attack.
During an attack, AHBs will pursue an individual or animal for up to a
quarter of a mile. AHBs may remain agitated for eight or more hours.AHBs
differ from EHBs also in their selection of sites for colonies. AHBs build
colonies in underground sites, in small sites such as flower pots and old
tires, and even in open, unprotected areas. EHBs are far more discriminating
in selection of colony sites.The difference between a swarm and a colony is
important because honeybees are generally not aggressive when in a swarm.
Bees swarm to establish new colonies.When honeybees swarm, the old queen and
the older bees depart to start a new colony elsewhere, while a new queen and
the remaining workers perpetuate the old colony.

AHBs swarm 20 to 40 times more often than EHBs. Swarms can be recognized by
large numbers of bees clinging together in a cluster or ball and not
associated with a hive. A swarm may contain 3,000 to 50,000 honeybees,
including a large number of bees flying around this cluster.Are the stings
of AHBs more deadly? The sting of an AHB is no more toxic than that of an
EHB. However, because AHBs are far more aggressive, a person can receive ten
or more times as many stings from disturbing an AHB colony. Persons who are
stung several times or who are allergic to bee stings should seek immediate
medical attention. Sting victims should be monitored by a doctor for several
days following apparent recovery. Delayed toxic effects from the venom,
including kidney failure and cardiac arrest, may occur hours to days after
the initial stinging incident.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Page 2

STATE OF CALIFORNIA-HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY Department of Health
Services Division of Communicable Disease Control 2

Why don't we just kill all bees?AHBs have had a significant impact on
commercial and hobby bee-keeping in the U.S.AHBs may cost the U.S.
bee-keeping industry $29 to $58 million annually. However,approximately $20
billion of the U.S. agricultural industry revenues depend on the pollinating
efforts of bees. For every dollar of honey and wax sold, $143 worth of
pollination is provided by honeybees (Texas A&M University, Department of
Entomology). Honeybees are important to the economic welfare of the U.S.
Complete destruction of honeybees is not an option for control of AHBs and
is discouraged.What can I do to keep from being attacked by AHBs?Honeybees
sting only when defending their colony. If you discover a swarm or colony of
honeybees, avoid the area. Keep children and pets away from swarms and
colonies.Avoid using power equipment or making loud noises or vibrations
near colonies. If honeybees attack you, quickly leave the area. A healthy
person can usually outrun honeybees. Cover your face with your arms and
clothing and seek shelter in an automobile, building, or other enclosed
structure. Notify your county agricultural commissioner, environmental
health department, or vector control agency. Do not attempt to remove the
colony yourself.How can the stingers be removed? Honeybees can sting only
once. The stingers are barbed and cannot be removed by the bee. After the
bee has stung its victim, the stinger, venom sack, and other associated
tissues are torn from the bee's body. Sting victims should remove the
stinger as soon as possible, preferably within 20 seconds, to prevent the
complete contents of the venom sack from being pumped into the skin. Remove
the stinger by scraping it out with your fingernail or the edge of a credit
card. Do not pull out the stingers with your fingers or with tweezers since
this may squeeze venom into the sting site. Wash the affected area with soap
and water. Apply an ice pack to relieve pain. See a doctor if breathing is
difficult, if you are stung several times or if you are allergic to bee
stings.Where can I find more information on AHBs?

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has information available
at their website http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/ahb_profile.htm.

In article 7Kzia.337166$S_4.299161@rwcrnsc53,
says...
You may find this interesting and instructive, I hope.
As well, I hope you have a great umbrella policy as a homeowner...
if anyone in your neighborhood starts a lawnmower, or a leaf blower
or any some such, who do you think they will sue if attacked by these
less than friendly bees? As a person with very little chance to survive


Snooze is getting a nibble...can he set the hook?
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

"Lar" wrote in message
. ..
Snooze is getting a nibble...can he set the hook?

Allegra's post was really informative, I wasn't really trolling, more of
attempting to do an April Fool's joke. But in hindsight it was a really weak
one..

Sameer

"Lar" wrote in message
. ..
In article 7Kzia.337166$S_4.299161@rwcrnsc53,
says...
You may find this interesting and instructive, I hope.
As well, I hope you have a great umbrella policy as a homeowner...
if anyone in your neighborhood starts a lawnmower, or a leaf blower
or any some such, who do you think they will sue if attacked by these
less than friendly bees? As a person with very little chance to
survive


Snooze is getting a nibble...can he set the hook?
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Hello Lar,

"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment"
Higdon. That is the correct phrase by the way.

I would rather be made a fool of by trying to share what I know, than being
a fool by pretending to know what I don't know. Anyone who lives with a
death sentence attached to the sting of a bee would gladly make a fool of
herself if in doing so one may share what little one knows with others in
order to try to help them. "Five to ten million people in the U.S. are
severely allergic to flying insect stings, including bees and wasps." Given
the time you spent adding the emoticons to my reply you apparently find this
subject hilarious. I am glad the world is comprised of people who do not
mind to share their knowledge about certain subjects in hopes of educating
others about the dangers they may not know exist for instance for their
children. I guess in your opinion that makes that choice a matter of bad
judgment. To each his own.

Your time would have been better spent if instead of some misquoted remark
you would have contributed some wisdom to the subject. Or gained some from
it.

Allegra

"Snooze" wrote in message
hlink.net...

"Lar" wrote in message
. ..
Snooze is getting a nibble...can he set the hook?

Allegra's post was really informative, I wasn't really trolling, more of
attempting to do an April Fool's joke. But in hindsight it was a really
weak
one..

Sameer


Hello Sameer,

Without getting into the subject at hand, may I make a suggestion? April
Fool's jokes are better posted some time before Tuesday, April 01, 2003
11:27 PM. By then and particularly at the time I read the post, it was
wayyyyyyyy past the time where I could have suspected it. In any case any
subject related to bees is never going to be a joke to me and to the other
5 to 10 million Americans like me, among them many children.

Thank you for recognizing that it was a poor subject. You have shown more
tact than those who do not have the sensitivity to see how it can be read
any day of the year.

Allegra

Allegra's post was really informative, I wasn't really trolling, more of
attempting to do an April Fool's joke. But in hindsight it was a really
weak
one..

Sameer -- Poor taste, especially when it's posted AFTER April Fool's Day.

Hey gang -- who wants to call.the EPA & Customs to call off the hounds? By
now I'd imagine they at least have their flamethrowers ready....

James

In article HbFia.43862$OV.141781@rwcrnsc54,
says...
Your time would have been better spent if instead of some misquoted remark
you would have contributed some wisdom to the subject. Or gained some from
it.


Wound a tad tight there aren't we? What wisdom needed in
one talking about "buying" Africanized bees. Unless of
course you could point out where that market does exist.
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

"Lar" wrote in message

Wound a tad tight there aren't we? What wisdom needed in
one talking about "buying" Africanized bees. Unless of
course you could point out where that market does exist.
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!


No, not really. I just feel sorry for people who do not know what they are
talking about and who go on and on about it. Here, get some wisdom:

http://www.agriseek.com/sale/b/Farm_...ized/i.htm?AUT
=2abdcd795138ff7abfe6c2b764bff6a2ba5f6a2d9

Allegra

In article QnIia.306869$3D1.168210@sccrnsc01,
says...
No, not really. I just feel sorry for people who do not know what they are
talking about and who go on and on about it. Here, get some wisdom:

Was I wrong about you were being taken in by a
prankster? Wasn't that what I commented on? I don't care
to register on that site but you have peeked my
curiosity. Assuming you are registered and can post an
auction, under farm animals type in flying pigs and see
if it creates an auction for them.

--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

"Lar"

Was I wrong about you were being taken in by a
prankster? Wasn't that what I commented on? I don't care
to register on that site but you have peeked my
curiosity. Assuming you are registered and can post an
auction, under farm animals type in flying pigs and see
if it creates an auction for them.

--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

I was not taken in by a prankster any more than you were
alerting me of anything of value. However I think that you may
benefit from "peeking" at the following :

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary
Main Entry: pique
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): piqued; piqu·ing
Etymology: French piquer, literally, to prick -- more at PIKE
Date: 1669
1 : to arouse anger or resentment in : IRRITATE what piques linguistic
conservatives -- T. H. Middleton
2 a : to excite or arouse by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff sly
remarks to pique their curiosity b : PRIDE he piques himself on his skill
as a cook

Case closed.
Allegra

In article Y3Jia.307441$3D1.167887@sccrnsc01,
says...
was not taken in by a prankster any more than you were
alerting me of anything of value. However I think that you may
benefit from "peeking" at the following :



LOL...that was a silly typo. Oh well..now admit you got
taken..come on. Well ok, instead just take a kid out and
show them the fun of the garden and the joy of nature.
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

I am perfectly happy to just be a fool.

I do know that in areas with AHB they still use them for pollination
but they keep the colony sizes small and in the range of 4-5 frames
which around here would be called a nuc or starter colony. They just
use more of them and work a bit more carefully than those of us who
are used to more gentle bees.


Systemic allergy to beesting would be a bummer, I sure hope it never
happens to me as it would ruin a great hobby.