Africanized bees found in Utah for the first time

ap on San Diego Union - Tribune ^ | 2/12/09 | Mike Stark - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SALT LAKE CITY — Africanized honey bees have been found for the first time in the Beehive State. The bees, long the subject of lore as "killer bees," were recently discovered in Utah's Washington and Kane counties, the state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that seven hives – three in the wild and four managed by private beekeepers – contained Africanized bees. The hives have since been destroyed.

The bees in Utah do not appear to be widespread and no injuries to people or animals have been reported.

State and local officials have been anticipating the bees' arrival since they showed up in Mesquite, Nev., in 1999, just a few miles from the Utah line.

[pissant]

Call in Skully and Mulder

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Reminds me of the plague-inspired nursery rhyme.
Muzzies, buzzies, we all fall down.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Do they wear their little bee-pants around their little bee-knees, and their little bee-caps on crooked?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Obama’s fault.

[Jeff Chandler]

After 1978, this was bound to happen (just kidding!)

[djf]

First Africans in Utah, eh?

(Calm down. Just kiddin. It’s a JOKE, folks!)

[Migraine]

Do they wear their little bee-pants around their little bee-knees, and their little bee-caps on crooked?

Some of them that can read learned that Utah was the "Beehive State", so they jangle-flew on over; the others set up production on emails about their uncle, the Prince of the Yorubas, who left $250 million (of which you can have 10% for merely pulling $10,000 out of your life savings and sending it via Western Union).

[ExSoldier]

I got a real question here: Do these little buggers have a climate range limitation? Will cold weather stop their movement north? I dunno, but I plan on a retirement move to Idaho at some point, so I'm hopeful. But they've been here in FL for years and it's not been a huge problem, so far. Certainly nothing worthy enough to make a movie. lol

[bmwcyle]

[Myrddin]

This doesn't bode well for the honey business in Utah. The Africanized bees are less productive than the typical Italian honey bees. They are also more aggressive.

[Inyo-Mono]

Remember the good old days when our one of biggest worries were the Africanized bees that escaped from South America? Every year (starting in the mid-’50s) we got a progress report on their travels north.

[Myrddin]

There's plenty of bee keepers here in Idaho. My favorite supplier is Cox's honey in Shelley (just south of Idaho Falls). The St. George area is mostly desert with occasional light snow. The further north you go, the colder it gets in the winter. Winter is nearly insect free in Idaho. Once the Spring rolls around, the flying insects reappear. The auto stores stock special soaps to help scrub the spattered insect bodies off your car. It sometimes sounds like a small hail storm when the bugs spatter against your windshield at 75 MPH. It's really exciting on a motorcycle. I've had a cloud of bugs spatter against my legs at 60 MPH. The impact stings a bit.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Honey bees are not native to North America or Europe. They are thought to come from Southeast Asia, although some recent research based on genomic studies indicates that their origin is actually in Africa. (21) Regardless, they represent only seven of the approximately 20,000 known species of bees. Apis mellifera, the most commonly domesticated species of honey bee, was only the third insect to have its genome mapped. These useful, and very prevalent, bees are commonly referred to as either Western honey bees or European honey bees. Although it is a non-native species, the honey bee has fit in well in America. It is the designated state insect of fifteen states, which surely reflects its usefulness."

There is no such thing as "Africanized" honeybees, which implies hybridization between the "American" honeybee and "African" honeybees.

There is no evidence that interbreeding is occurring. "Africanized" honeybees are simply African honeybees that are pushing out the "American" honeybee.

[arealconservativeforachange]

[ExSoldier]

I'm looking at the vicinity of Boise, specifically a suburb called Emment. Know anything about that area? Here in Florida, we have these little critter called LOVE BUGS whose swarms are the act of mating in mid air and they can cover your car on the freeway post haste! I, too, have experienced the problems of motorcycles and bugs. Ya learn not to grin too much. Just as soon as I'm able I'm gonna get me a HD Soft Tail Custom....

[DocH]

Africanized bees found in Utah for the first time?

How about "Halfricanized Hussein bees found in the White House". :)

[Myrddin]

I think you mean Emmett. Jeff Head lives there. He can provide better guidance. I live in the Pocatello area (southeast). Boise is just too congested and liberal for my tastes.

My local Yamaha dealer made me a fine deal on a 2007 Roadliner and the Statoliner trim package. My out the door cost was around $13,800. We have a Harley dealers in Pocatello, Blackfoot and Idaho Falls. There's lots of riders in the area. A big contingent rolls through on the Salt Lake City to Sturgis run each year. There is also a "Big Dog" dealer in Pocatello. Those a pretty fancy "chopper" style bikes.

No matter where you land, there's lots of beautiful country here. It's a great area for cruising on a bike.

[ExSoldier]

Thanks. Jeff: You have freeeeeepMail!