The question of dealing with Africanization was a major topic at the latest
Calif State Beekeepers Convention.

 California south of the Tehachapi's is fully "Africanized."  Or should I
say that the feral population displays many Africanized characteristics,
such as frequent swarming, much stronger defensive behavior when colonies
get large, favoring of broodrearing over honey storage, hardiness, and
resistance to varroa.  They are great bees at staying alive--well-adapted
to the climate.

The ferals, when put into hives, are care-free bees, much as are Dee's bees
in Arizona.  It is easy to be an "organic" beekeeper with Southern
California ferals.

The problem arises when hobby beekeepers "rescue" feral swarms and keep
them in populated neighborhoods.  The colonies can be worked barehanded
when small, or when conditions are favorable.  But large colonies can also
become strongly defensive, and if disturbed, can attack innocent neighbors,
giving all beekeepers a bad name.

So the CSBA has taken a position against keeping feral bees in populated
areas.  Most Southern California beekeepers requeen annually with queens
from Northern California, which (Bob's opinion notwithstanding) is not
Africanized.

As evidence of the above, two weeks ago the weather finally turned cold.
 My sons and I had to find coveralls and gloves for the first time since
early last spring.

--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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