AZ & NM question on bees...

[nao57]

So I hear all the time how awful africanized bees are in Arizona. But I never hear anything about if that's similar or different in New Mexico? What's the deal there? I'd like to know if its the same or different.

I don't see a threat for bees on this forum though... I would prefer to ask this here because people are nice here.

 

[roadrunner]

It's just the news trying to scare you with all those scary stories. Not so much today, because it's pretty much worn off, plenty of other things to be afraid of.

Africanized bees are very protective of their hives, but most people don't come within proximity of the hives, so any Africanized bees people do come in proximity to are no different than any other honey bee -- they are just as docile away from the hive.

We've always had our own version of "Killer bees" in North America, before the Africanized bees arrived and those were Yellow Jacket wasps, which are just as aggressive in protecting their nests, but since they've always been around the media couldn't capitalize on the fear factor nearly as much as a new threat. And Yellowjacket wasps are just as docile away from their nests. I've had them in my yard and all they want is to hunt, I can stick my hand out to them and they will not attack.

 

[nao57]

Thanks for the reply

 

[roadrunner]

How's this for timing. A 2-y/o, near where I live, was just hospitalized for being stung over a 150 times by a nest of Yellowjackets. If this was a nest of "Killer Bees" it would be a much bigger story https://www.news4jax.com/news/georg...better-after-multi-organ-failure-family-says/

Georgia 2-year-old stung over 150 times by wasps ‘fighting to get better’ after multi-organ failure, family says​

​

.... 2-year-old Beckham Reed was riding on an electric toy side-by-side vehicle with his cousins in the yard when he hit a yellow jacket nest.

 

[DirtMechanic]

How's this for timing. A 2-y/o, near where I live, was just hospitalized for being stung over a 150 times by a nest of Yellowjackets. If this was a nest of "Killer Bees" it would be a much bigger story https://www.news4jax.com/news/georg...better-after-multi-organ-failure-family-says/

Does that still help athritis or have they changed their mind on that sting therapy?

 

[MiTmite9]

Does that still help athritis or have they changed their mind on that sting therapy?

According to peoplespharmacy.com -------

"Apitherapy, which uses bee stings medicinally, is undergoing a resurgence. Some proponents claim that honeybee stings can alleviate the pain of arthritis, shingles or tendinitis. Yellow jackets can be dangerous, however, and should not be used."

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I don't know about your yellow jackets, but British wasps, vespa vulgaris, have alkaline stings, bee stings are a mixture of formic acid and proteins which cause an allergic reaction. It makes wasp stings much more painful in the immediate term, but not as dangerous.
My heart goes out to the Reed family, losing a child is always awful, but that sounds particularly nasty.

 

[Loose Screw]

Yuh know, after a big summer rain here in the Great Desert Southwest real early in the morning my backyard sounds like a buzz saw. Not so much this year though, real Hot and Really Really Dry and for a while there I was having to rinse off my plants two tah 3 times a week from all the fine dirt and soot, unbelievable! Love my Beez, never been stung, neither have my dogs ........