In my posting of two days ago, I included the following note:

    "I hope everyone realizes that newspaper accounts give little or
no technical information about such events, so I can only surmise
what might have taken place -- with a copy to Eric Mussen, State
Apiculturist, who might have some input."

*********

    Eric responded with much the same message I provided.  He wrote:

         "In theory, when a stinging incident occurs in which 15 or
more stings result, that event is supposed to be reported to the
County Agricultural Commissioner.  The commissioner sends someone to
the scene to collect bee samples for analysis.  The samples are
collected in alcohol and sent to Sacramento, where a mitochondrial
DNA test is run on the bees.  Usually the sample can be processed
within 48 hours and the results made known, if the bees were
Africanized (contain "sub-Saharan" mtDNA).

    "A number of us are on a FAX list, and we are supposed to be
notified in advance, so that we don't get caught by surprise.  I have
received no information on those bees, as of yet (maybe someone is on
vacation).  AHBs in southern California is not new news.  However, I
was FAX'ed that the 2004 spring delimiting survey located AHBs in
Madera County (a new find), but not in Fresno County.  This did not
stir up much media response."

                                                Adrian
--
Adrian M. Wenner                (805) 963-8508 (home office phone)
967 Garcia Road                 [log in to unmask]
Santa Barbara, CA  93103        www.beesource.com/pov/wenner/index.htm

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*    The most formidable weapon against errors of any kind
*    is reason.
*                               Thomas Paine, 1794
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