Actually, if you delve a bit deeper, the spread of Africanized bees wasn't solely due to the queen excluder incident. Queens had already been shared with other apiaries and beekeepers had complained about the temperament of the bees.
At least one person dies in my general area every year as a result of disturbing a nest of africanized bees - usually someone doing yardwork.
Thanks Lynne. That's interesting to hear and I'm certain you're right. The incident in Brazil in the 1950s can't have been an isolated incident, as various sub-species of honeybees continually interbreed without human involvement (as well as with our help). This is certainly a topic I hope to look further into!
Actually, if you delve a bit deeper, the spread of Africanized bees wasn't solely due to the queen excluder incident. Queens had already been shared with other apiaries and beekeepers had complained about the temperament of the bees.
At least one person dies in my general area every year as a result of disturbing a nest of africanized bees - usually someone doing yardwork.
Thanks Lynne. That's interesting to hear and I'm certain you're right. The incident in Brazil in the 1950s can't have been an isolated incident, as various sub-species of honeybees continually interbreed without human involvement (as well as with our help). This is certainly a topic I hope to look further into!