Colin Mitchell wrote on September 22, 1996:
 
>I am a South African journalist currently researching bees for a magazine. I
>would be grateful if anyone could supply me with data regarding the African bee
>-- how verocious or aggressive it is, how it compares with its US and European
>counterparts, how the man-in-the-street can treat bee stings, how dangerous can
>a bee sting be, the average size of a swarm, is the African bee a killer? In
>fact, I'd be grateful for any data on the African bee that you could provide me
 
*******
 
   I just purchased a small booklet (KILLER BEE HANDBOOK) written by David
Faulkner and produced and edited by Douglas Hansen of the NATURE
CONNECTION.  That booklet was written for the general public and, though
very short, covers the following topics:
 
1) Background (history of the strain and arrival in the U.S., 2) Basic
Africanized honey bee facts, 3) Scenarios for encountering the bees, 4)
Vital medical information, 5) Precautions, 6) How to handle emergencies,
and a list of 25 references to the literature (both general and technical.
 
   Although my own file on Africanized bees is several inches thick, I
found this summary remarkably complete, just as described by Eric Mussen
(UC Davis Extension Apiculturist) on the back cover of the booklet.
 
********
 
   I purchased my copy directly from the NATURE CONNECTION (10839 Charbono
Point, Suite 200; San Diego, CA  92131) for US $3.95 + $1 for shipping and
handling (higher for other countries, I would suspect).
 
   The e-mail contact I used:  [log in to unmask]
 
                                                        Adrian
 
Adrian M. Wenner                         (805) 893-2838 (UCSB office)
Ecol., Evol., & Marine Biology           (805) 893-8062  (UCSB FAX)
Univ. of Calif., Santa Barbara           (805) 963-8508 (home office & FAX)
Santa Barbara, CA  93106
 
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