When I worked african bees in Paraguay...there were mighty clouds of bees
around atacking all around..of all the seasoned beekeepers present -I alone
stood my ground....

Hold it..thats what the story will have evolved into by  the time my
grandchildren get here.

The actual fact is that initially I was so hesitant that the lady who owned
them asked if I had ever worked bees..To my surprise, the 4 hives I worked
were not aggresive to the point where I took off the work gloves I had used
and worked barehanded..one time even peeling back by suit/veil to get a
better look at the queen. I got stung once in an hour or so of work.I did
work very cautiously for the most part.
My daughter caught about a dozen swarms over 2 years and none were horribly
ferocious except one got testy when a drunk guy w/ no protection insisted on
helping her...he eventually left out of necessity.My best memory is that he
tried to help cut down a branch w/a chain saw.
Her co-worker observed them working at night which is kindve unusual.
She has heard of several factual reports from her fellow workers that can
only be described as horror stories. Most involved children and animals.
I talked to a beek from S Afica...the ones he worked sounded like they truly
deserved the title "killer bees". He said they would meet you when you
opened the door to the truck several yards from the hives-duct tape better
already be on your feet and hands interfaces.

John Horton
N Alabama

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