From: Bob Harrison <[log in to unmask]>

>The true test of telling the degree of AHB is done in the field not in a lab with the Fabis test.

well, i'm not convinced that one can necessarily tell the degree of africanization (in the sense of what percentage of dna is "african") in the field, but i do agree that such field tests/observations are the only ones that matter.

if one encounters a hot hive in ahb territory (or not) and there is a serious stinging incident, why does anyone need a lab test (fabis/dna) to help determine the fate of such a colony?  if they are dangerously defensive/aggressive, they should be dealt with regardless of what the lab says.

on a similar note, hybrids often display very defensive behaviors...this is from a 1951 quartly report from the madison bee lab describing some of the hybrid crosses they were working with....and this predates kerr's experiments:

"...bee gloves and coveralls, frowned upon by progressive beekeepers as cumbersome and unnecessary, had to be used even during the height of the honey flow to avoid an unbearable amount of punishment".

deknow


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