[__ Science __ ] This Is Becoming A Real BIG Problem!

[Barbarian]

I will try and find out exactly when your 'killer bee's arrived. That's what they called them

They were recently introduced into the Americas on purpose. They are fierce, but produce a lot of honey. The idea was to breed them with domesticated bees and produce a high-yield, peaceful bee.

Some of them escaped, and here we are.

 

[Tessa]

It's a recently-introduced parasite in most of the world. So initially, bees had little protection.

The Varroa bee mite (Varroa jacobsoni) was first discovered by A.C. Oudemans in 1904, as a parasite of the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana. In the late 1940s, Through movement of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies into and out of Asia, Varroa mite became established on honey bees first in Africa and then in Europe. Quickly, it spread around the world. It was first detected in the U.S. in 1987; Mexico and Canada quickly closed their borders to U.S. bees. Varroa has now been in the U.S. for over two decades and a robust history exists published in two parts: 1 and 2.
https://beekeep.info/a-treatise-on-...ging-diseases-and-pests/varroa-short-history/

Bees in the United States and Europe are starting to evolve through natural selection to survive a mite that has been decimating their populations.

Professor Stephen Martin, chair of animal ecology at Salford University in the United Kingdom, said in some instances bees were living with varroa mites and an associated virus, without any other treatment.

"We are trying to understand what is happening," he said.

Although the process of evolution is slow, it has given the industry hope and sparked an interest in better beekeeping methods, with people entering the industry to try and save the bees.

"Without the beekeepers in some areas, the honey bees would have disappeared completely," Dr Martin said.

"One of the benefits for Australia is if we can understand what is going on, we can tell you [Australian beekeepers] what to look for, what sort of set-ups work, what treatments are needed.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-06-28/bees-starting-to-evolve-survive-varroa-mite/8660318

Woe as long ago as that! Sounds like they're making some kind of progress thankfully.

 

[Tessa]

They were recently introduced into the Americas on purpose. They are fierce, but produce a lot of honey. The idea was to breed them with domesticated bees and produce a high-yield, peaceful bee.

Some of them escaped, and here we are.

Sounds a good idea. Hope it works.

 

[jasonc]

They were recently introduced into the Americas on purpose. They are fierce, but produce a lot of honey. The idea was to breed them with domesticated bees and produce a high-yield, peaceful bee.

Some of them escaped, and here we are.

fierce? these attack and kill other hives and take the honey or hive for themselves, any surviving bee once the queen is killed is part of that new hive and is very aggressive.

the concept of aggressive to us is a misnomer. these will attack if they feel threatened and will follow you for a distance of three miles and only you. they have attacked a coworker and he had to hide in a truck that wasn't his and ask the owner to drive him to city hall and the bees where attacking the guy but not the driver, they are able to recognize the threat . they will collide with you as a warning three times and send out a signal the and the entire hive attacks.

 

[Tessa]

Africanised bees,are deadly and all hives here have 40 percent of them ,the Queen is the only way to tame them.if she is normal the hive won't be.

There was a swarm of them last year in the countryside here. They stung one lady that died and her friend nearly died.

 

[Tessa]

fierce? these attack and kill other hives and take the honey or hive for themselves, any surviving bee once the queen is killed is part of that new hive and is very aggressive.

the concept of aggressive to us is a misnomer. these will attack if they feel threatened and will follow you for a distance of three miles and only you. they have attacked a coworker and he had to hide in a truck that wasn't his and ask the owner to drive him to city hall and the bees where attacking the guy but not the driver, they are able to recognize the threat . they will collide with you as a warning three times and send out a signal the and the entire hive attacks.

Terrifying. What a horrible way to suffer.

 

[jasonc]

Terrifying. What a horrible way to suffer.

they aren't that common here. I have seen more bees reading meters. I will photo a hive when I can and show you big they get in a box if its intact. if its full of bees, I cant, they will not let me ,lol. I have a photo of one somewhere, i think.

 

[Tessa]

they aren't that common here. I have seen more bees reading meters. I will photo a hive when I can and show you big they get in a box if its intact. if its full of bees, I cant, they will not let me ,lol. I have a photo of one somewhere, i think.

I wouldn't stay anywhere near one.
I Couldn't find when they were intruders in UK but they were talking about doing it in 2010

 

[jasonc]

I wouldn't stay anywhere near one.
I Couldn't find when they were intruders in UK but they were talking about doing it in 2010

I wouldn't be able to get close enough to the meter , they like to build a hive under the lid and or also underneath the roof by electric meters. I have read a home with a hive in a hole in the wall by the meter. that is gone, the large hive probably dead.we do have people who will remove them but these are few. most will kill the hive.

 

[Tessa]

That is so scary Jason. Don't be too brave

 

[jasonc]

That is so scary Jason. Don't be too brave

a bee isn't going to attack me if im not a threat. I have killed a few wasp nets and had to as I couldn't work on a car I let sit for a few months.i have my weapon, automotive brake cleaner, basic isobuterol in a can. it is a nerve agent to them and kills them fast. best killer I have ever seen. I took out there hives in that car when I traded it in and man they wanted my Toyota, it took them a month to stop harassing that truck, I drove it from the dealer and they were following me, I parked the truck and went to use it and there they were buzzing around it.they wanted a new home.

 

[jasonc]

That is so scary Jason. Don't be too brave

if It read Richard winger's house again on the castaway cove route I will post a photo of the beehive under neath the meter can. I put the warning in the machine, right side bees by meter.

 

[Razeontherock]

Professor Stephen Martin, chair of animal ecology at Salford University in the United Kingdom,

.

Never trust a Professor by the name of Steve Martin. The arrow through the head gag is just too much, even though he does play a mean banjo

 

[Barbarian]

Sounds a good idea. Hope it works.

There seems to be some hybridization that worked out, but mostly, it's been a failure.

 

[Razeontherock]

There seems to be some hybridization that worked out, but mostly, it's been a failure.

Although, the "killer bee" comment that Tessa made had nothing to do with killer bees. She was referring to colony collapse disorder on her side of the pond, and having US hives imported; those were jokingly referred to as killer bees.

And now they have actual killer bees over there, too; this is the first I've heard of that

 

[JohnDB]

I love to buy local honey.
Every place seems to have some too.
For each place the flavor is unique and different... special to that area.
So everywhere we travel we buy a jar.

The Land Between the Lakes clover honey had a unique buttery finish but my wife went with the wild flower instead.
The honey at Gatlinburg is out of this world...very unique. Buy it at the ranger station... you won't be disappointed.

Buying honey from local beekeepers supports small business and cottage industry. Besides...it's awesome to compare flavors of honey.

 

[jasonc]

I love to buy local honey.
Every place seems to have some too.
For each place the flavor is unique and different... special to that area.
So everywhere we travel we buy a jar.

The Land Between the Lakes clover honey had a unique buttery finish but my wife went with the wild flower instead.
The honey at Gatlinburg is out of this world...very unique. Buy it at the ranger station... you won't be disappointed.

Buying honey from local beekeepers supports small business and cottage industry. Besides...it's awesome to compare flavors of honey.

Ours taste like oranges,still does .

 

[jasonc]

if It read Richard winger's house again on the castaway cove route I will post a photo of the beehive under neath the meter can. I put the warning in the machine, right side bees by meter.

Tessa

Ran into these not even a full two hours in my route.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Tessa

Ran into these not even a full two hours in my route.

If those are bees I didn't mean that they're already extinct, I just meant that it looks like it is headed in that direction.

 

[stovebolts]

a bee isn't going to attack me if im not a threat. I have killed a few wasp nets and had to as I couldn't work on a car I let sit for a few months.i have my weapon, automotive brake cleaner, basic isobuterol in a can. it is a nerve agent to them and kills them fast. best killer I have ever seen. I took out there hives in that car when I traded it in and man they wanted my Toyota, it took them a month to stop harassing that truck, I drove it from the dealer and they were following me, I parked the truck and went to use it and there they were buzzing around it.they wanted a new home.

Carb cleaner is the best! Autozone econosize!!