[Pollinator] Killer bees nasty, but losing some sting

[Matthew Shepherd (Xerces Society)]

>From the Washington Times
http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20050812-042309-3717r.htm

Killer bees nasty, but losing some sting
UPI; 8/12/05

Africanized honeybees, known as "killer bees" may not be a bad as once thought, but they are still a nasty nuisance. 

In 1957, a Brazilian scientist, attempting to breed more productive honeybees, crossbred gentler European honey bees with some more active African queen bees hoping to get a gentle more productive honeybee. However, that same year, 26 of the African queens were accidentally released in the wild and their progeny have been headed toward the United States ever since. 

Africanized bees are now part of California's landscape and they are ill-tempered and quick to defend their own turf, but as they move north they're breeding with gentler bees and they're losing some of their most undesirable traits, Eric Mussen, agriculturist beekeeping expert for University of California at Davis Extension, told the Sacramento Bee. 

Operating machinery near a hive can trigger an attack and while some 200 "guard bees" may defend a European hive, an Africanized hive will have 2,000 guard bees, and they'll attack and won't quit, according to Mussen. 
______________________________________________________
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Protecting wildlife through science-based advocacy, education, 
and conservation projects since 1971. To join the Society, make a 
contribution, or read about our work, please visit www.xerces.org.

Matthew Shepherd
Director, Pollinator Conservation Program
4828 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97215, USA
Tel: 503-232 6639 Fax: 503-233 6794
Email: mdshepherd at xerces.org 
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