[StBernard] (no subject)

[Westley Annis]

'Killer Bees' Now Established In New Orleans
Science Daily - Africanized honeybees have been found in the New Orleans
area since July of 2005, but the regularity and frequency of finding them
there is new cause for concern.

Another confirmed positive Africanized honeybee sample in the New Orleans
area indicates the bees are most likely established there now, Agriculture
and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom said. 

The positive sample was found in a trap along the Mississippi River in St.
Bernard Parish about five miles downriver from a confirmed find earlier this
year. The location is about one mile south of Meraux and two miles southeast
of Chalmette. 

"In January, a colony of Africanized honeybees was found in a St. Bernard
Parish house being torn down because of damage from Hurricane Katrina. The
proximity of this find indicates the bees could be a swarm from that colony
or could be from a ship or barge passing by on the river," Odom said.
"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." 

The Department of Agriculture and Forestry maintains Africanized honeybee
traps along a north-south corridor through the state and at all deepwater
ports. These traps will continue to be utilized in monitoring the
progression of Africanized honeybees across the state. 

So far this year, LDAF's New Orleans District has collected 40 samples from
traps near the Mississippi River and the port. Five of the samples were sent
to the USDA for further confirmation. Of those, three were negative, one was
positive and one is pending results. 

Africanized bees are smaller and more aggressive than the European honeybees
commonly raised for honey production. Their hostile nature concerns many
outdoor enthusiasts. 

"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." 

The venom in Africanized bees is the same as that in European bees, but
Africanized bees will sting in greater numbers leading to a toxic reaction
in some cases. Experts recommend seeking cover immediately to reduce the
number of stings in a confrontation with Africanized bees. 

Africanized honeybees were first discovered in Louisiana in July 2005 when
LDAF received notification from USDA that samples sent to the national bee
lab in Tucson, Ariz., were confirmed as the Africanized variety. The samples
were taken in June 2005 from a swarm of bees found in a trap near the town
of Rodessa in north Caddo Parish. It was the first case of Africanized bees
moving into the state through natural range expansion. Since then, they have
steadily moved east through the state most recently being confirmed near
Pecan Island and Turkey Creek. 

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Louisiana
Department of Agriculture & Forestry.