Conrad,
 
    To draw the analogy to wasps is adding to the confusion.  Perhaps on an
    individual basis AHB and yellowjackets are comparable in some of their
    behavior, but surely AHB feral colonies or managed AHB colonies pose a
    genuine risk when in close proximity to human activity and habitation.  I
    think "we" (within the beekeeping fraternity) must acknowledge this fact and
    articulate it for the public to know what these risks are.  The recent
    Killer Bee movie was certainly not helpful in educating the public.
 
    (For those who saw it, it was remarkable that among some of the accurate
    information, bees were prescribed the male gender.  It floored me that
    producers who obviously put in a great deal of effort and money allowed some
    bozo to describe a killer bee as a 'mean bug leaving HIS stinger behind!).
 
    In any event, I believe beekeepers can adjust their management to deal with
    AHB successfully.  However, it are the subsequent and secondary effects that
    have the greatest impact on the beekeepers' ability to continue operating.
    Information from Mexico (and I presume  similar events have taken place in
    Central America), indicate that after AHB  swept through, commercial
    operations incurred greater operating costs to manage a larger number of
    smaller colonies and that the loss of apiary sites had the greatest impact.
    In the "litigation-prone" US, africanization could spell disaster for many
    producers; not only the increased potential of a lawsuit, but also the loss
    of apiary sites.  Without making the public aware of AHB and educating them
    responsibly, any beesting incident may quickly become a "killer bee
    incident".  Lets try to prevent that.
 
    regards,
 
    Paul van Westendorp                         [log in to unmask]
    Provincial Apiarist
    British Columbia