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Since the subject of critters is moving around the threads now, has or does anyone know of a problem, potential problem, or seen/heard about those
KB's that are in AZ?
They are VERY dangerous/deadly once a swarm is alerted...
Since we are looking foreward to spring and some hiking etc.
The African Hybrid Bees (AHB) are well-established in southern New Mexico. During the summer months, a swarm of them may hitchkike on a truck, train or other vehicle virtually anywhere in the Rocky Mountain west clear to Canada. They seem to die off in areas north of the 50-degree (F) mean temperature line during winter months (as is true in South America, also, where Dr. Kerr's assistant released them into the wild in 1957). Swarms have been reported in Springtime in Roswell, Lordsburg, Hatch and such southerly environs... and during Summer in Santa Fe, Clovis, Albert-Turkey and such-like climes more northerly.
Good advice is: If you find a swarm of bees somewhere... Leave Them Alone!
This is generally true of honeybees (whether European or AHB), yellowjackets, wasps, or any other species of flying insects which hang out in groups and can bite or sting.
For detailed information and advice, contact the bug experts at NMSU and NM Dept of Ag in Las Cruces.
Thanks for the info..I was hearing on the news that the "Honey Bee" is in trouble due to ??. Hope the KBz's don't travel too far north...Need to find out what kind of area the KB are looking for? Hope not my neighborhood....
HW
What Native Son said (I happens to know he bee a beekeeper hizzelf)
As to the current state of affairs of honeybees in the US. It stinks.
We're losing lots of bees to a thing called Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. All of us little hobby beekeepers are blaming the gigantic migratory pollinators for our woes. Fact is, we don't know exactly what's causing the collapse. My money is on a combination of factors including chemicals, stress, nutrition, and inbred genetics. I was at a beekeeper conference this weekend in Arizona and one of the speakers noted that we couldn't possibly devise a more efficient vectoring system for bee diseases than the one we have now; we ship 75% of ALL the bees in the US to California and concentrate them in the almond groves for a six week period every spring, and then once they've exchanged every possible disease with each other, we spread them back across the US. Visualize thousands of kindergarteners packed into a gymnasium with runny noses, coughs, tummy aches, and .... well, all the rest.... for about 5 days. Imagine what they come out with.
sjbasin, you described that very well. I have heard the same info from the local guy who sells me honey here in Ohio. He says that the commercial bees are being overworked. They are moved from place to place and not given a chance to rest. He said that his bees here in Ohio pretty much hibernate unless we get a warm front. Then they come out to get some food before going back to hibernation. Why would they concentrate all the bees in Calif. for 6 weeks? I encourage others to support local small beekeepers. I will be on the lookout for good, local honey when we get to ABQ. I know that I will be able to find it at the farmer's markets when they open, but where should I look for local honey before Spring?
sjbasin, you described that very well. I have heard the same info from the local guy who sells me honey here in Ohio. He says that the commercial bees are being overworked. They are moved from place to place and not given a chance to rest. He said that his bees here in Ohio pretty much hibernate unless we get a warm front. Then they come out to get some food before going back to hibernation. Why would they concentrate all the bees in Calif. for 6 weeks? I encourage others to support local small beekeepers. I will be on the lookout for good, local honey when we get to ABQ. I know that I will be able to find it at the farmer's markets when they open, but where should I look for local honey before Spring?
They move them all out there to pollinate almonds. 80% of the world's almonds are grown in California. They're pollinated by honeybees, and it takes most of the bees in the US to handle it. It's a very interesting time in beekeeping right now.
I just recently moved to Las Cruces from upstate NY and my back yard seems to be invested with bees that tend to hover just above the grass. I know in NY there are ground bees. Does Las Cruces have such a thing? Also does anyone know of a good exterminator? P.S I am talking about a hundred or so bees here...... Every morning around 7. Thanks
I get vast numbers of honey bees on my Russian Sage and Butterfly Bush in Nambe. They seem peaceful and healthy. Only problem is that they didn't show up in time this spring to help my two apple trees.
Incidentally, you can get great honey at the Espanola Farmers' Market -- Mondays and will keep going through about mid Ocober.
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bees............
