Greetings
I have a great deal of fondness for this discussion group and feel it
is one of the best around. I even like its name: "Informed Discussion
of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology". It should be borne in mind,
however, that while many of the comments that appear in these pages
are of the informed variety, many are not. I do not have the time nor
inclination to address them all.

One of the most informed beekeepers that I know is Dennis
vanEngelsdorp. He has an excellent publication entitled: "African
Honey Bee Action Plan"  You can find it at
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/AfricanHB.html

excerpts

Characteristics of the Africanized honey bee compared to European

AFRICAN HONEY BEE (AHB)

Defensiveness
Typically 10 x more stings then EHB
Quicker response time
Persistent (following up to 1/4 mile)
May not respond to smoke

Swarming
16 times per year
Longer swarming season

Absconding
Common after disturbance and
period of dearth/poor resources
Up to 16 times a year

Robbing
Can be excessive at times

Nest site
Smaller cavity acceptable allowing
for easier establishment in urban
environment

Wintering ability
Poorly adapted to cold winters (but
becomes adapted with time)

Population density
High colony density

Colony takeover
Queen usurpation common
Drone parasitism of European
colonies common

Calmness on the comb
Bees extremely nervous running
and festooning on frames making
management difficult


EUROPEAN HONEY BEE (EHB)

Defensiveness
Usually gentle
Defensiveness is manageable with
Smoke

Swarming
1 to 2 times per year
Distinct swarming season

Absconding
Unusual (and not conductive to
survival)

Robbing
Usually only occurs during dearth
and is beekeeper caused

Nest site
Require relatively large nesting
cavity (> 40 L)

Wintering ability
Highly adapted to cold winter

Population density
Low colony density

Colony takeover
Exceedingly rare

Calmness on the comb
Usually calm on the comb


Risks

AHB poses a serious threat to the Mid-Atlantic States. The potential
adverse impact begins with, but is not limited to, potential loss of
bees for pollination of crops vital to our economy and food supply.
The pollination demands of regional fruit and vegetable producers
require large numbers of colonies to be moved annually from regions in
which Africanized bees are, or likely will be, established. The
contribution honey bees make to the five-state agricultural economy is
estimated in excess of $ 200 million. The vast majority of this value
comes from the pollination services provided by the estimated 20,000
colonies moved into the 5-state region beginning with spring orchard
bloom. These colonies return to southern states during the winter
months to provide needed pollination in those states, to decrease
over-winter colony losses, and to ensure colonies are sufficiently
strong to meet northern fruit and vegetable producers' spring and
summer pollination needs.

AHBs also pose a potentially serious public health and safety threat.
AHBs could adversely impact tourism and recreation within the
five-state region. Educational institutions, emergency services, parks
and recreational agencies, and others, all require training and AHB
control plans to negate or reduce AHB risk to the public. Experience
in other states shows that advance preparation and planned public
awareness programs result in better understanding and cooperation that
results in reduced negative impacts. Appropriate response rather than
panic reduces the possibility of injury or death. Much can be learned
from the Venezuela and Mexican AHB experiences. Human deaths due to
stinging attacks reached a high of 100 per year in 1978 (three years
after AHB introduction) in Venezuela, a country of ten million people.
A public awareness program including cartoon posters helped reduce
human deaths to 20 per year. Mexico prepared an even more effective
public awareness program in advance, including cartoon spots on TV. A
country of 95 million, Mexico has recorded just over 200 human deaths
during the first 18 years of the existence of AHB in Mexico. A total
of 14 fatalities attributable to AHB have occurred in the United
States since AHB colonization in 1990. The reduced impact is thought,
in part, to be from carefully planned educational efforts.

One last concern that needs to be addressed is liability and its
impact on the judicial system and insurance industry. Beekeepers will
need assurance that they will not face unmerited litigation from an
alarmed or overly sensitized citizenry; without such assistance many
will be unable to continue their businesses. Finding suitable, secure
locations for bee colony apiary sites will be an escalating challenge
for beekeepers, particularly sites that will be able to accommodate
apiaries with larger numbers of colonies.

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