Recently, I had the privilege to attend an "Organic Landscape Management Professional" certification class taught by Chip Osborne. While there, I networked with several landscape businesses looking to expand and offer organic services. I was furious to learn that bee removal specialists in Southern California have used scare tactics and old science to convince local HOAs to kill every feral bee colony. Why? Due to the sensational headlines and outdated science not accounting for the dilution of genetics over the course of the last 10 years. HoneyLove and large numbers of urban beekeepers in Southern California work to save our feral colonies because of the overall decline in pollinators. So.... what is the truth? Should we be working to save our feral honeybee colonies?
 "The genetic makeup of these "gentle" bees bears an unmistakable Africanized stamp. Yet somehow, in less than 20 years, they have lost the extreme defensiveness that we have come to expect of killer bees. The Puerto Rico beekeepers are using local Africanized bees for their industry and do not report problems with highly defensive behaviour" | I go into detail on the background and details in my FAQ "The Truth About Africanized Bees". However, the basics is this: Genetics have been diluted over the last decade and 70% of SoCal feral populations have at least 10% Africanized genetics. However, that also means that they have up to 90% of European genes. The dilution of genetics has contributed to bees with Africanized genetics to become docile over time. They CAN and SHOULD be given a chance if a beekeeper specializing in feral bees decides they are manageable. What does the San Bernardino County Dept. of Public Health recommend? The safe rescue and relocation of feral colonies versus extermination when possible.  |
Schedule us a meeting with your HOA and we will present this information to them. We specialize in rescuing feral colonies here in Southern California. Help us SAVE THE BEES!
WE RESCUE FERAL COLONIES! - (909) 660-3072
Gentle Africanized bees on an oceanic island - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00252.x/f
San Bernardino County Africanized Honey Bees Fact Sheet - http://www.sbcounty.gov/uploads/dph/dehs/depts/vectorcontrol/AfricanizedHoneyBees.pdf
Range and Frequency of Africanized Honey Bees in California (USA) - http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0137407
Are Killer Africanized Bees Really That Dangerous? - http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151123-are-killer-africanized-bees-really-that-dangerous
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