Zombie Bees

[alisonb]

For those that have an interest in bees - http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... df35945.71

 

[Anonymous]

Im wondering if it was in fact ccd. Ccd has made it rounds every 20 years or so. This last time was the first time it was recognized as a pattern.

 

[cow pollinater]

Interesting... It's kind of like varroa mites. You know they're killing your bees but there's not a whole lot that you can do about it as It's nearly imposible to kill a bug on a bug without killing both bugs. If you do kill the bad bug then the bad bugs that lived just breed more bad bugs that resist whatever you found that killed them.
In my opinion, it's best to let it run it's course so that the bees that develop resistance are the genetics that carry on... Hard to do at first but best in the long run. Hygenic stock would be the place to start but I'm sure there'd be more to it than that.

There are strains of bees out there that I'm convinced could survive a nuclear blast but they're maybe just a tad to tempermental for just about anyone with an ounce of sanity. :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Lol. CP you and i both know that the "killer" bees are over hyped and a tuallu could be utilized if peiple would get past the hype

 

[cow pollinater]

I dunno... I bought a bunch of queens from Texasbred's neighbors a few years ago that are tested free of african genetics and you still had to really like pain to be around those things. :lol: I sold most of them and kept five of the gentlest stuff and have made my own queens for the last two years and I still can't pop a lid without getting stung at least ten times and that's in full gear. The one time that I tried it in just a jacket and blue jeans I counted over a hundred stingers in my jeans. :hide: If a managed colony acts like that I don't want to know what the africanized stuff will do. Mine are pretty dangerous as it is.
BUT, I can walk away and not mess with them until it's honey harvest time and they're still there. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Youre picking the wrong weather then. They like sunny days. Cloudy days make em pizzy. Ive dealt with buckgast and italian queen hives that were pizzy. Mist would have called them africanized. In fact, some buyers of the nucs actually said they were africanized. Over hyped if you ask me

 

[cow pollinater]

Nope, sunny days, plenty of smoke... I know bees and these are just flat mean. I even tried hot weather as most bees are REALLY quiet at anything over 100 and these girls are still plenty bad.

 

[Anonymous]

Bet they make alot of comb and honey too though

 

[rockridgecattle]

Hate hot bees. And as a commercial producer, I do not always have the luxery of waiting for a sunny day. Some things just have to get done. As for these parasites, one more thing to worry about. But, as always, I wonder if a strong healthy hive will be the best cure. Keep 'em strong, keep 'em healthy and it will go along way to keep this parasite in check

 

[alisonb]

If a managed colony acts like that I don't want to know what the africanized stuff will do. Mine are pretty dangerous as it is.

When you are kitted out and work quietly/gently with them, not too much smoke, the African bee is not a problem. I was in a hurry to harvest one day and did a bit of banging etc. and geez those bees would not allow me to take off my kit until it was way dark :shock: . Learned a valueable lesson that day - respect! I'd say the biggest problem with the African bee is that it is so unpredictable and once they decide to attack , he!! you better run.

 

[rockridgecattle]

Well, the word now is that the media took the story and ran with it and blew it all out of proportion. Even the guys who published the paper are embarrassed by all the jumps and leaps that have taken place