"Killer Bees' Descend on New Orleans" Be careful NOLA DUers!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

'Killer Bees' Descend on New Orleans
By Associated Press

Wed Sep 12, 2:48 AM

MERAUX, La. - Africanized honeybees, a fierce hybrid strain sometimes referred to as "killer bees," appear to have established themselves in the New Orleans area, the state agriculture commissioner said.

A swarm of the bees was captured about five miles from where demolition workers found a colony of Africanized bees in January, commissioner Bob Odom said Tuesday.

The most recent find was close enough to the earlier find that the bees might have come from the same colony. But they might also have flown ashore from a passing ship or barge, Odom said in a news release.

"Although the exact source can't be identified, we have to assume Africanized honeybees are now established in the area and people should be careful when working outside," Odom said.<snip>

<snip>
"Because Africanized bees have been labeled 'killer bees' for years, there's an idea around that they are bigger than European honeybees," Odom said. "The truth is they're actually smaller but a lot fiercer.

They have the same venom as honeybees, but attack in groups. Experts recommend that anyone confronted with Africanized bees find cover quickly.

Africanized bees are the result of an experiment to increase honey production in Brazil. A swarm escaped a lab in 1957 and headed north. When they mated with native strains, the offspring were as aggressive as the African parents.<snip>


http://www.comcast.net/news/science/index.jsp?cat=SCIENCE&fn=/2007/09/12/761236.html&cvqh=itn_killerbees

[KamaAina]

1. Killer B's descended on New Orleans two years ago

Bush... Brown... :grr:

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. These are the ones with wings....

;)

I just saw a weather report that said Tropical storm "Umberto" (?) will hit Texas and NOLA may get hit by the remnants of that storm!:cry: Poor NOLA. Enough is enough already!:cry:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. Man, Wu-Tang sure gets around.

[YOY]

8. My thoughts exactly

Perhaps some Voodoo bokur witchdoctor made a zombie ODB.

I'd like to see that. Until he started eating my brains of course...

[Swamp Rat]

3. The Savage Bees came here in 1976.

Don't worry. We'll kill them in the Superdome. :D

[bdamomma]

5. I can think of a place to send those killer bees!!!

[Parche]

6. These Are Invading Hollywood

:hi:

[kestrel91316]

7. Word is that virtually all the wild honeybees in Los Angeles County

are now africanized. Which makes my peaceful little bunch out back in the apricot tree all the more amazing.

They don't make the news much. Just give them a wide berth, and keep the loud equipment away from them. They can be outrun, and the fire departments all have soap spray to kill them if they get called out.

[Bluebear]

9. Ha! This is working out (chuckle) VERY WELL for New Orleans.