I think an important thing to consider with regard to "the Africanized Bee thing" is RELATIVE risk. It is a fact that people get killed by European Honey Bees also - due to hypersensitization and anaphylactic (I think that is the right word!) reactions. People are also killed by many other stinging insects, and poisonous snakes, and scorpions, etc... The point is that we have learned to live with these things, and we can learn to live with the Africanized Bee. The second point is that while there is a risk associated with all these things, it isn't a big risk if you take proper precautions (such as wearing tall boots when walking in the desert to protect against rattlesnakes, etc.) Finally, we all do things every day that carry a much more significant risk (in my opinion) - drive a car, cross the street, etc. (do you smoke cigarettes???) While we debate all this stuff, the press keeps sensationalizing the danger (it helps their ratings for some strange reason). We as beekeepers really need to band together and start educating the public about the real story behind the Africanized Bee, how dangerous they actually are (relative to other known risks - such as rattlesnakes -- is this a good comparison???), and how to avoid a confrontation with angry bees (Africanized or otherwise!) Well, that's just the opinion of one beekeeper on this issue. Humbly submitted, Rick Hough Hamilton, MA, USA (just NE of Boston) Internet: [log in to unmask]