Re: Killer Bees (Long)

["Sharlene" <sharrc@sosinet.net>]

Of all the things to worry about in the bay area, I'd say killer bees has
got to be on the bottom of the list.
My family were commercial beekeepers for 3 generations and I had a series of
horses and a pony most of my life at home.  We often had over a hundred
hives of bees in the pastures out back, often in the same pasture as my
horse.  We lived in the midst of hundreds of acres of orange groves as well,
and those were thick with bees during the bloom twice a year.  I have read
that horse sweat makes bees angry, but honestly never was chased by bees on
my horse.  Another danger is the fact that horses do not breath through
their mouth, and so a bee sting in the nose could be fatal.
For sure, do not wear any kind of perfume, aftershave, hairspray, etc., when
you anticipate being near bees, since they are very attracted to those
odors.  Also, they are partial to red and yellow, naturally.
    True, Africanized bees are just a little more of everything, a little
more aggressive, fly a little later at night, at a little lower temperature,
and so on.  But, in my opinion the biggest problem they pose is public
relations.  In California it is nearly impossible for any significant number
of natural pollinators to survive without help from humans--this is why we
must import 1/2 of the pollinators from out of state each year to pollinate
many crops.  The hives of honey bees, our domesticated pollinators, are
"re-queened" every two years with a new queen, usually already bred.  Thus,
Africanized bees would never be allowed to survive within the protected
environment of the apiary.  (The worker bees live only 2 weeks during the
summers.)
    One last tip, if a bee chases you, zig-zag or go inside to get out of
it's path, and if one gets caught in your hair, just smash it so that it
won't sting you from fear.
Sharlene

-----Original Message-----
From: Alison Dunn <alcritters@hotmail.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Monday, October 11, 1999 9:07 AM
Subject: RC: Killer Bees


>I live in the Bay Area in California, and have been dreading the day
>that killer bees reach our area.  We have yellow jackets, or 'meat bees' as
>some people call them, but they only pursue a hundred feet or so when they
>are disturbed.  I've heard that killer bees pursue up to a quarter of a
>mile.  Have any of you in Southern areas had any experience with them while
>riding yet?  And any advice on what to do if they come after you while
>riding?  Thanks!
>
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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=