Spring's Sweet Honey

Africanized Honey Bee Alert

There was a concern voiced that publishing a fact based warning regarding Africanized Honey Bees could cause concern amongst the population of Colorado. I was present at the winter CBA meeting where it was revealed that 10 queens had been purchased and all 10 were considered to be "hot." We cannot speculate on other bees. I feel that information about a danger that presently exists in this county, and is absolutely on our state borders as shown by the map below, could save lives and injuries. I offer this as public information and urge you to go to the USDA government site to get the whole story.

There is great concern regarding these so called "killer bees." It should be noted that between the time the Africanized Honey Bees arrived in Hidalgo, Texas in 1991, and the CBA winter 2005 meeting, 13 lives lost in the U.S. had been directly attributed to the Africanized Honey Bee.

Mr. Kim Flottum and Dr. Marla Spivak traveled to Colorado to speak at the CBA winter meeting. One of the topics on which they fielded questions was the current status of the Africanized Honey Bee infestation in the U.S.

When prompted with the question of liability involved with intentionally transporting Africanized Honey Bees from areas of infestation to areas not as yet infected, Mr. Flottum and Dr. Spivak agreed and replied, "The question is ripe for exploration."

With the threat of these bees on the immediate horizon, sightings on the borders of Colorado, and behavioral problems of colonies reported just outside the Denver Metro area, we would like to offer some practical things you can do to protect yourself from danger. These tips will also help you avoid the invasion of the other 500+ species of stinging and biting insects in our state.

Tips that will help you keep your property safe

Warn your children about this peril. Impress them with the seriousness of this situation. They should immediately inform an adult if they see anything suspicious. Information is a critical tool.

Caulk all holes, cracks and seams in your home and all appurtenant structures. A crack as small as 1/2 the width of a pinky fingernail could allow entry.

Patrol your property at least twice a week, once in daylight and again with a flashlight in the evening. Scan all eaves and overhang areas that are protected from rain. This patrol should begin in April and end in October. A beekeeper thought =

A swarm in May is worth a bale of hay,
A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon,
A swarm in July ain't worth a fly.

This poem puts stress on the most active months of bee swarms, but we recommend caution throughout the spring, summer and early fall.

Be aware that the Africanized Honey Bee will nest in the usual places our honey bees will set up housekeeping, but will also choose unusual places as small as the inside of an old tire. Other places include under the hood of an unused vehicle, under a picnic table or any overhang that is protected from rain.

Be wary and be careful, but please do not be terrified. We, the beekeepers of Colorado, have formulated a strategy and we are trained to deal with these bees. If you see a swarm of bees, please do not try to destroy these bees on your own. Safeguard your children and pets, warn any neighbors, and call us.

Questions about Spring's Sweet Honey? Send us e-mail: springsweethoney@ghog.com