Can someone closer to the Africanized penetration into Texas help?

Also, this shows the need for an organization of beekeeping information on
the web.  It would be great to have a national level organization set up a
web page that would allow someone find it easily and to work down to local
help.  I know, we can't even get that kind of organization at the state
level!

"Some people see things as they are and ask Why?  Others see things as they
could be and ask Why not?"
I have ideas but no resources.

-----Original Message-----
From: Lackey, Raymond
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 8:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Need advice


This is the best help I can give you at this range.  I will pass this on to
others closer to the problem.

A) No.  Honey bees can be exterminated whenever they are a nuisance.
B) Generally, no.  There is no licensing of beekeepers.
C) Generally honeybees, no.  Do not be so quick to class them as not
Africanized.  This is not a simple diagnoses and the behavior is more like
Africanized.


Ray Lackey

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 12:24 AM
To: Lackey, Raymond
Subject: Need advice


I am a homebuilder in Austin, Texas and today faced a bee emergency
while trying to do the right thing.  We had a huge hive in a tree and
have just finished a home on the lot next door.  This hive was ten feet
from all the construction activity...bulldozers, concrete trucks,
framers, landscapers, etc.  The buyer moved in and requested we do
something about the bees as humanely as possible.  We called a local
pest control service and they said bees were protected by the government
and they could not destroy them.  Question A)  Is that true?  Then we
contacted a beekeeper (hobbyist) who came and set up whatever the boxes
and such are and "smoked" them.  He began the process and stayed an hour
or so and then left, meaning to return later.  The bees, who had not
stung anyone during the arduous construction process, and who did NOT
seem agitated when the beekeeper was there, then swarmed and attacked
and killed a labrador in a backyard about 100 feet away surrounded by a
six foot privacy fence.  They continued to swarm the immediate
neighborhood and the fire dept. was called.  They "soaped" the hive with
little effect and then I called a pest control man who specialized in
bees.  I hated to have them killed, but I have neighbors hysterically
screaming.  Now, if I still have your attention after all this, and IF
you answer questions like this....
The poor beekeeper is just the sweetest man and the neighbors are
yelling that I did not have a LICENSED bee person...B) Is there such a
thing?  The pest control man said they were NOT Africanized or they
would have been MUCH more aggressive (They did not swarm him while he
agitated their hive and put out the poison) C) Have you heard of this
kind of behavior from honey bees?  I am heartsick because of the dog and
the bees.  Any information you can give would be so greatly appreciated.
I could find no Texas bee clubs, so I hope you get this and can respond.
Thank you.  Ann Rayborn, Austin, Texas