Among the articles in May’s issue of American Bee Journal is one on Africanized Honey Bees in the U.S. In the past some have speculated that the bees would mix with European bees on their way north and the more aggressive traits would be bred out. So far that doesn’t seem to have happened. Because the bees spread in the U.S. hasn’t taken place exactly as was originally predicted that scenario has been brought up again on another bee chat group. What I found interesting in the ABJ article is that it *may* be rainfall of all things that’s been a barrier to AHB spread here in the U.S. “Rainfall over 55 inches, distributed evenly throughout the year, is almost a complete barrier to AHB spread.” “Total annual rainfall alone isn’t a barrier; AHBs have been found in areas of the Tropics with higher rainfall, But in areas with high rainfall distributed throughout the year, [the pattern] of AHB spread fit perfectly.” The article in American Bee Journal was reprinted from the March 2004 issue of Agricultural Research Magazine. For those who do their beekeeping over the internet the article can be accessed here. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/mar04/bees0304.pdf (By the way, Bob, I was certainly glad to read in the last issue of ABJ that you guys were able to pull your bee truck out of its mess and keep it from going down into the quarry.) Regards, Dick Allen :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::