Is the American media responsible for giving the Killer Bee a reputation that is worse than it deserves? In a word, YES, according to experts. A name like Killer Bees attracts readers. Its real name is the Africanized Honey Bee (AHB), but that moniker causes viewers to yawn, just as you may have done if I had substituted AHB for Killer Bees in the headline on this story.
The truth is this: The AHB is slightly smaller than our common European Honey Bee (EHB), its venom is not stronger nor more toxic and, contrary to some press reports, it does not sting repeatedly; it stings once, leaves its stinger, then eventually dies. How does AHB differ from EHB? The former is more defensive of its hive, more aggressive and, if threatened, sometimes attacks in groups. It also is more nomadic than the EHB. The AHBs aggressive nature transfers into honey gathering and is the reason they were imported to Brazil in the 1950s. After introducing AHBs, Brazil's honey production rose from 47th place to 15th in the world. According to news reports, the AHB drifted north from Brazil to the United States at a rate of 200 to 300 miles annually, first being documented in Texas in 1990 and in Florida in 1994. That's what the press tells you under their Killer Bee headlines. But that simply is not true. In truth, scientists assure us that Africanized bees have lived quietly in the United States for at least 40 years, and perhaps as long as 150 years. These bees, ascendants of the same group that has been flying north from South America, arrived a tad sooner, compliments of the U.S. mail and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is public knowledge, but it did not create a stir because at that time no one referred to them as Killer Bees. The USDA says that the bee lab in Baton Rouge, LA, received Africanized bee semen from Brazil in the late 1950s and made the offspring available to beekeepers throughout the US . In fact, Africanized bees were mixing with common bees in the United States as early as the mid-1800s, according to a 1973 article in Bee World, citing bee breeders who brought them over from Africa to mix with domestic hives. Again, at that time the press was not calling them Killer Bees, but Africanized bees--ho-hum. How deadly is the AHB? Not very, unless a person has severe bee allergies. Accurate information is difficult to obtain, but in the past 17 years, about 15 deaths have been directly attributed to AHB stings. Nearly all were elderly or allergic and most likely would have died if the stings had been inflicted by any common bee. By comparison, In just one year, 2006, there were 693 bicycle deaths in the nation. So, in 17 years 15 deaths were attributed to stings and 11780 to bicycles (extrapolated from 2006 figures). Perhaps we should call them Killer Bicycles. While nobody wants to be stung by any bee, AHBs are certainly not a major cause of deaths, nor highly lethal. The American Medical Association has documented that one man survived more than 2,000 stings. In January, a Cape Coral, FL, man received numerous stings while trying to remove a hive. Though he has a bee allergy and is terminally ill with cirrhosis, the 47-year-old survived. Most bee attacks are precipitated by the victim, but there are things you can do to minimize your chances of being stung:
Bees like water, so be alert near canals and ditches. Check yard regularly for colonies, look in flower pots, trees, bushes, and cavities.
Dont go near hives. If working outside, avoid loud noise, dark clothing, sweet perfumes and leaf blowers or chain saws.
Never try to remove a hive. Never spray it with a hose or throw things at it. Call a professional.
If attacked, do not swat, freeze or play dead. Run. Most people can outrun bees, but it might take two or three blocks. Head for a house, car, tent or other enclosure. Dont jump into water. Bees circle until you surface.
Facial stings are more dangerous than body stings. Pull clothing over your head if no other protection is available.
If you witness an attack, stay away. You cant help, and this will result in two victims. Call 911. They have the equipment and training to handle the situation.
Do not panic; remember, an attack by AHBs is painful but rarely fatal.
The Arizona Beekeepers Association has been especially vocal about the Killer Bee hype.
"There are many distortions. The Africanized bee is not new in this country - it's been here for decades," said Dee Lusby, president. "Killer bees are a hyped-up scam foisted on the public to sell papers and milk federal research dollars.
The Arizona group calls the "killer bee" crisis "imaginary," "baloney," and "an international fraud." This group is engaged in a breeding program which they say will eventually produce a mellower AHB.
The media perpetuates the killer image of the AHB because the word KILLER is more dramatic in a headline than AHB. And in this crisis-driven society, bureaucrats and alarmist scientists (who flourish on grant money) promote it because the thought of Killer Bees invading America means research and regulation dollars. No crisis, no money.
Marty RicKard Bio
Marty RicKard attended William Penn College , Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi , from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism. He also has a Masters Degree in photography, in addition to the Craftsman, CPP, and A-ASP degrees. Marty spent two years as a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat. He was owner of the weekly New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist for his article, which was syndicated in twenty Iowa newspapers. For more than a decade Martys regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine. He has been published in many other magazines and newspapers, including Writers Digest, Writer Advice, Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge. He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China in 1986. He currently is a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and a full-time writer of fiction and poetry. He is the author of two poetry books and one volume of short stories. He is an entertaining speaker.
|
