Africanized honeybees found in Louisiana

[Jerrymac]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_on_sc/africanized_bees

[JP]

June of 2005 is when I heard they were caught in traps near Ruston. Since then I have heard of two other instances, both near Chalmette, Louisiana. I removed hives in these areas a week before and a week after these discoveries, I figure its a matter of time before I have an encounter. I have been called in many times over the last couple of yrs to deal with what people thought were Africanized bees, but they were mistaken. Most of the feral hives I deal with are nice. This past season I removed many a hive and only ran across a handful if that, that were more aggressive than usual. One hive was in a fallen tree that a bulldozer operator ran into. He was stung 67 times and was sent to the hospital. Everyone in the area thought they were ahb but it was just a hive that had been in a tree for several yrs, and didn't like the bulldozer intrusion. Other beeks in my area haven't had encounters yet, either. But I know its not if they'll come but when.

Sincerely, JP

[johnnybigfish]

Hey Jerrymac,
 Have you come across Africans in your part of Tx?
 Theres a guy in the bee club that says he kills all his captures now because all the wild bees he catches are africanized. I find this VERY hard to believe since I caught up about 5 swarms last summer and they all seemed ok to me.
your friend,
john

[Jerrymac]

If going by the temperament everyone says AHBs have then nope, ain't seen none. I have a few that are a little rowdy but no massive body covering attacks. Now a friend of mine, (over by Roaring Springs) who is really allergic to bee stings was attacked while mowing. The guy they called out to take care of the bees believes they were Germany bees. Don't think they were sent to be tested.

Also... I do not know what my friend might have eaten or what unnatural oders  he might have put on himself nor do I know how close he was to the bees while mowing.

[JP]

Jerry, you think he was referring to the little aggressive black bees? I have heard about these, never run across them myself. I may have heard that they were from Germany, not sure, but every now and then, someone brings them up.

Sincerely, JP

[Jerrymac]

I don't know. I wasn't there. He told me they were in a place where I had done a cut out a year earlier. (or was it two) they..... the church camp people... never got around to covering up the hole in the wall I left. I guess bees moved back in.

Also this friend has a habit of exaggerating things a bit so I take most of the story with a grain of salt.