Africanized bees and tractor operator

[LindenBruce]

Ive been attacked from ground living wasps..or hornets... here in idaho. The first time was in open cab JD870. i ran like an olimpian, and left the tractor running in neutral. it shut itself off after awhile when fuel ran out. i didnt approach the tractor till nightfall with wasp spray. Not sure why seat switch didnt kill the engine.

the second time was last summer. again ground dwelling variety under manure pile. they came at me like crazy...but i know have a cab tractor. i just kept working...and destroyed the hive.


We dont have killer bees here in north idaho ...hopefully never will. Three weeks ago i was in California dealing with my mothers estate, and she has a swarm of killer bees living in the water meter enclosure. They moved from the tree that was torn out last year. A bee keeper came to collect what he thought were honey bees...but turned out to be killer bees. the hive was destroyed. Some apparently moved on. that hive has now been destroyed also.

well see where they will turn up next

Where abouts in California was that? I'm in central San Joaquin County along the eastern edge right where Stanislaus County crawls right up my back. B.

 

[Redneck in training]

Moms are funny, like that! Well, they used to be. Now, they'd probably look for someone to blame besides the kids.

Bet you learned to leave those wasps alone, Redneck! :laughing:

By today's standards I would be put to foster care. In fact all the kids in the village would. Our parents were too busy to make living so we were raised by the older kids. You learned the good stuff together with bad one. In retrospect if my mom would know what we were doing she would turn grey at early age. But that is another long story. Hope you had great childhood.

 

[grsthegreat]

Where abouts in California was that? I'm in central San Joaquin County along the eastern edge right where Stanislaus County crawls right up my back. B.

San Fernando valley

 

[farmgirl19]

By today's standards I would be put to foster care. In fact all the kids in the village would. Our parents were too busy to make living so we were raised by the older kids. You learned the good stuff together with bad one. In retrospect if my mom would know what we were doing she would turn grey at early age. But that is another long story. Hope you had great childhood.

Great childhood! Was allowed to play, take knocks and learn. Of course, being blonde, sometimes it took me more than once making the same mistake, before I truly got the lesson! I am still surprised the skin grew back on my knees! :laughing:

 

[NorTracNY]

What do the experts say will stop these beasts? Cold? Wet? Or will they make their way to Alaska?

The current research is actually showing that the Africanized genes are already around most of the country. The question is not a matter of do you have Africanized bees, but do you have a "hot" (or mean) hive. The genetics are mixing with the Russian and European bee genes that were brought to this country hundreds of years ago.

They use to believe that the Africanized bees would not be coming too far North because of the cold winters, but we are just developing "mutt" bees. The talk I went to suggested that if you have a hot hive, you should requeen. Who cares what genes the bee has. Clearly since the Africanized bees were brought into Brazil (I believe), you are going to have more of the Africanized gees the farther South you are.

I don't have much advice though on how to protect yourself. The jackets/protective gear are hot, so no one is going to want to wear is all the time as a precaution. I've seen how one of the big differences in the Africanized bees is how far they will pursue someone. Most people could run the 100 or so yards away from European or Russian bees.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

'Crazy ants' terrorizing parts of U.S. are resistant to chemicals that kill other species | Mail Online

Another gift from South America.

 

[saltbranch]

I got into them a few yrs ago. Had rented a Dozer and was clearing brush here in South Texas. My father was near by in a pick up thank god. I pushed over an ole tree and started seeing spots and then the stinging started. Killed the dozer, jumped off .yelled and started running.These things were going up my nose, in my ears, my eyes....just no getting away from them. Then my dad pulled up I Jumped in and we hauled Azz, killing what got in the cab. I took 4 benadryls and 2 of my blood pressure pills and we went to the ER. They pulled 60 plus stingers out of my head alone. It felt like a real bad sun burn the next day and a severe hangover. I was lucky and got a whole new respect for Bees that day. I invested in a top of the line Bee suit and make sure to have a person nearby in a vehicle when working in the brush on the tractor now, Them some bad critters IMO.

 

[Nooodles]

i cant stand it. whenever i see a b hole i shoot all my poison into it

 

[farmgirl19]

saltbranch; Sorry you went through that, but am glad you managed to get into a truck and to the ER in time.

 

[farmgirl19]

i cant stand it. whenever i see a b hole i shoot all my poison into it

Then you'd better quit eating. Without bees, there is no pollination, and therefore, no crops. Maybe as you begin to grow up, you will understand such things, and not have such a knee jerk reaction. The problem isn't bees, it is the Africanized bees, or the "mutt" crosses of them, that is the problem.

 

[TomSeller]

Then you'd better quit eating. Without bees, there is no pollination, and therefore, no crops. Maybe as you begin to grow up, you will understand such things, and not have such a knee jerk reaction. The problem isn't bees, it is the Africanized bees, or the "mutt" crosses of them, that is the problem.

I had not heard of the "mutt" crosses as we don't have the African bees where I live. Are they as nasty as the African bees? I agree with not destroying bee or wasp hives just to do it. Even though I am very allergic to stings, I understand they have a beneficial role. Except maybe yellow jackets. lol

 

[farmgirl19]

I had not heard of the "mutt" crosses as we don't have the African bees where I live. Are they as nasty as the African bees? I agree with not destroying bee or wasp hives just to do it. Even though I am very allergic to stings, I understand they have a beneficial role. Except maybe yellow jackets. lol

The crosses will be able to migrate into areas, once thought too cold for the African bees. Those crosses are also more aggressive, like the African bees, than the straight honey bee.

 

[NorTracNY]

The crosses will be able to migrate into areas, once thought too cold for the African bees. Those crosses are also more aggressive, like the African bees, than the straight honey bee.

farmgirl,
Do you have references on this? I am aware of research that shows no such conclusion. Also, let's not go overboard. Honeybees are just one of many polinators. They are not even native to North America.

 

[cqaigy2]

Also, let's not go overboard. Honeybees are just one of many polinators. They are not even native to North America.

Funny you should say that. Was having a discussion with my BIL about Colony collapse disorder, i mentioned that at least it will knock down the honey bees and let the native pollinators have a chance to thrive, and he looked kind of shocked. I said you know, honey bees aren't native, right?

 

[NorTracNY]

Funny you should say that. Was having a discussion with my BIL about Colony collapse disorder, i mentioned that at least it will knock down the honey bees and let the native pollinators have a chance to thrive, and he looked kind of shocked. I said you know, honey bees aren't native, right?[/QUOTEI

I believe that the reason industry brings up the polination and the honeybee is solely because of the extreme monocultures that have been created. I am not aware of another polinator that the industry could bring into these monocultures. The CCD also appears to be a largely industry problem. Yes there are many colonies lost every year with hobby beekeepers for many reasons, but I'm told there has not been a single case of the hundreds of beekeepers in the local club.

Honeybees have been here hundreds of years, original ship records indicate they came with some of the first European settlers, and are now an important part of the polinators. But they are not native.

 

[RBA50]

Honeybees are not native, nor are most of the plants they are pollinizing.

 

[Redneck in training]

Honeybees are not native, nor are most of the plants they are pollinating.

Exactly. No bees = no food (or lot less food).