From SYSAM@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDUMon May 22 07:15:10 1995 Date: Mon, 22 May 95 08:35:35 EDT From: Aaron Morris To: dicka@cuug.ab.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Jun 91 13:44:14 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mary Jo Orzech Subject: Southwick Friends, I have an unusual request. Ed Southwick, the bee researcher who inspired the creation of this list, (and all-around good guy) is unexpectedly laid-up this summer (just underwent a pancreas operation). He will be 'out-of-commission' for at least a little while. If you know him (and even if you don't) perhaps you might consider sending him a card or brief note (sorry, he doesn't get e-mail at home) to cheer him up and let him know you're thinking of him. I'm sure he would like to hear from you. Tell him you're subscribed to Bee-L. His address is: Ed Southwick 20 Timber Trail Brockport, NY 14420 USA Thanks. I've come to know that bee people are among the sweetest in the world. Mary Jo Orzech Academic Computing Services SUNY Brockport BITNET: MJO@BROCK1P ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Jun 91 12:56:35 ARG Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Insectos Sociales Subject: Robber fly I am searching information about the robber fly Mallophora ruficauda. Anybody of the net knows about this fly? Many thanks in advance, Walter Farina Walter Farina Insectos Sociales inssoc ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Jun 91 11:11:32 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MacPhil Subject: USA Today / Killer Bees Front page of today's USA Today: "'Killer' bees attack" -- the article goes on to describe the attack on a man in Brownsville, Texas. ---------------------------------------------------------------- MacPhil iqti400@indycms.bitnet 1-800-972-8744 x40836 iqti400@indycms.iupui.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Jun 91 18:01:04 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: sbambara@NCEXTC.CES.NCSU.EDU Mostly to Walter Farina- I have caught several (and observed numerous) Mallophora orcina catching honey bees in bee yards in North Carolina. It is a common species across the southern U.S. It is also a beautiful bumble bee mimic. I have also observed another robber fly, Promachus rufipes, catching honey bees. That is as close as I can come to M. ruficauda. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Jun 91 10:32:03 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Kevan Subject: Entomo-l I have had a couple of requests about the address for ENTOMO-L and how to subscribe: If the address ENTOMO-L@VM.UOGUELPH.CA fails try: ENTOMO-L@UOGUELPH Guelph is a BITNET node. I was recently in Colorado where a colleague found that the VM and CA made for problems. If you have difficulty please message me through my address EVBKEVAN@VM.UOGUELPH.CA or again without the VM. and .CA. Best wishes, Peter ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jun 91 16:39:06 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MacPhil Subject: USA Today article from Wed, 05-Jun / "Killer Bees" I had several inquiries about this and since it's relatively short: " 'Killer' bees attack " By Dianne Barth and Sandra Sanchez / USA Today Jesus Diaz has survived the USA's first reported "killer"bee attack. But officials warn it's just the beginning. Diaz, 35, couldn't hear over the whir of the tractor-mower he was driving at the Siesta Mobile Home Park in Borwnsville, Texas, May 20. When he felt pricks, he ran. "I thought they were honeybees," Diaz said when he learned what stung him. He was treated for 18 stings on the head and neck. City health workers destroyed the swarm, but sent some bees to a federal research laboratory, which identified them Tuesday. The USA's first "killer"bees -- so named because they sting in lethal numbers -- arrived in Hidalgo, Teaxas, last fall without incident. But a wet spring left southern Texas in full bloom, luring 60 swarms of up to 10'000 Africanized bees each across the Rio Grande since April, said Teaxas A&M University's Kathleen Davis. The swarming season is ending now, but Davis said conditions are ripe for the bees' return in the fall. ---------------------------------------------------------------- MacPhil iqti400@indycms.bitnet 1-800-972-8744 x40836 iqti400@indycms.iupui.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 91 09:06:45 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MacPhil Subject: Two news stories of interest (?) Yesterday's Chicago Tribune had a brief article as an overview of an experiment at Ohio State developing a Pavlov-like response to various types of odors for honeybees. There is a story floating about the news this am of a keeper in TN who fell into a hive and was severely stung (several?) thousand times. It was reported his entire face was stung and he was vomiting bees at the Emergency Room. I read four newspapers daily, so I'll keep my eyes out for any information on this when I come across it. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 91 09:56:31 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Kevan Subject: Killer Bees in Texas First, Africanized bees should not be refered to as "killer bees". This epithet is media hype and unnecessarily alarmist. To be sure, these bees are rather prone to attack. Their attacks are "defensive" and take place when the colony is threatened. The attacks are not "aggressive" in the meaning of "unprovoked". We can be certain that the incidence of bee sting, and multiple bee-stings will rise with the invasion of Africanized bees into the USA. With that goes the public health hazard and associated problems. However, it will probably turn out that various stings from assorted wasps, other bees, and bites from various insects, will be often blamed on "killer bees". This will make for problems for beekeepers! It is the responsibility of informed people, such as bee-l'ers, to assist in reducing the amount of public panic and purple media hype to their proper perspective. Let's act responsibly for the beekeeping community and its protection from mass hysteria. Second, regarding the swarming tendency of Africanized bees. Please be aware that they do not have the same seasonality, and short duration of swarming that European honeybees have. Their rapid spread is explained, in large part, by these bees ability to swarm often and rapidly, to bivouac in some places for a few days and move on, and to behave so over an extended season of favourable conditions. If bee-l'ers are starting to receive inquiries about Africanized bees, there is a hefty body of literature to use to inform oneself about their biology. One of the salient aspects of African bee biology is that they are naturally rather migratory, unlike European honeybees. I realize that some bee-l'ers may disagree in part with what I have said. Perhaps I have over-simplified the situation. Let's see some debate to help us all be better informed over this prickly issue. Thanks, Peter ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 91 09:52:41 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MacPhil Subject: Re: Killer Bees in Texas In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 10 Jun 91 09:56:31 EST from On Mon, 10 Jun 91 09:56:31 EST Peter Kevan said: >First, Africanized bees should not be refered to as "killer bees". This I *know* this. I did *not* paraphrase the article I posted--I reprinted it *verbatim*. >Second, regarding the swarming tendency of Africanized bees. Please be aware >that they do not have the same seasonality, and short duration of swarming >that European honeybees have. Their rapid spread is explained, in large I *know* this too. >what I have said. Perhaps I have over-simplified the situation. Let's >see some debate to help us all be better informed over this prickly >issue. (flippancy not intended in all of this) I understand everything you've said, so I'm trusting you didn't take the time to write all of that just for my benefit. I'm not a keeper (yet) and I don't have a degree in biology (in fact, the only Bio credits I have are when I CLEP'd out (sans study) so I wouldn't have to sit through a boring Intro to Bio class). Thanks for the comments and advice. Also, here is the story I alluded to earlier (I did not proofread--no time) About 1'000 honeybbes attacked their new keeper and held off paramedics for nearly 30 minutes as they tried to rescue him said Johnson City, Tenn., authorities. John Reeves, 61, an insulin-dependent diabetic, had an insulin reaction Saturday that caused him to flail his limbs and kick the beehive. The bees attacked Reeves, who remained hospitalized in satisfactory condition Sunday. "When the paramedics tried to get near him, they (the bees) would attack them,"said Assistant Fire Chief Gordon Lane. "His face was with with stingers. He was covered from head to toe," said Lane, who donned an aluminum suit to rescue Reeves. Emergency room nurse Brenda Egan said three people working more than three hours couldn't remove all the stingers. "At least 50 percent of his body was covered with stingers, especially the upper part," Egan said. "... He vomited up quite a few bees, and one came out of his ear when they brought him in." Reeves reportedly was working with a new beehive without adequate protective clothing, she said. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 91 20:51:51 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MacPhil Subject: Bees in the News Tonight (again) For those who missed the news on television tonight (6/10) in one form or another, check out your newspapers tomorrow-- A truck transporting several hundred hives wrecked on a freeway... This has certainly been the week for bees to be in the news... ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 91 07:35:25 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: RSMITH6@SCTNVE.SCT.PEACHNET.EDU Subject: s in the news An d on the news this morning, Wednesday, 12 June, there is a report of a 9000 st rong bee swarm causing havok in downtown Bangkor (SP?) Maine. Very nice fo otage of a beekeeper hiving the swarm also. Do I sense media driven hysteria en gulfing the populace ? R-K Smith RSMITH6@SCTNVE ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 91 11:15:08 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Subject: Re: s in the news In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 12 Jun 91 07:35:25 -0400 from 9,000 bees in a swarm is not that many. Swarms of European bees are often much larger. Why such a swarm should cause havoc in Bangor, Maine is a mystery. I expect such swarms in small, agriculturally based cities, are almost an annual happening. Mostly, bees in swarms are rather docile and less likely to sting than those in hives. The old tale that swarming bees do not sting is rubbish...they do sometimes even when handled with the greatest of care and respect. Nevertheless, they are less prone to sting from swarms than from hives. Yes, it sounds like media hype. Peter ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 91 10:12:29 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MacPhil Subject: USA Today / "What's the Buzz on Bees?" This article is in today's (Wed, 12-Jun) USA Today. I thought I'd pass it along so you could be aware of what the public is being told... ---------------------------------------------------------------- MacPhil iqti400@indycms.bitnet 1-800-972-8744 x40836 iqti400@indycms.iupui.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 91 13:05:46 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MacPhil Subject: Bee Obituary >From the Chicago Tribune, Friday, June 14, Obituary column (AP): Dr. Mary Loveless; pioneered shots against bee, wasp stings. WESTPORT, Conn. (AP) -- Dr. Mary Hewitt Loveless, who pioneered an injection to prevent shock from bee and wasp stings, died June 2 at age 92. Dr. Loveless was a 1925 graduate of the Stanford University Medical School. She worked as a physician in San Francisco before becoming a research fellow at the Roosevelt Hospital Allergy Clinic in New York City in 1934. In 1938, she joined the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center as associate professor of clinical medicine. She retired from teaching in 1964 and continued her private practice in Westport. She was an early leader in venom immunology in the 1940s. While other researchers were grinding entire bees and other singing insects, she focused on the venom sacs. Dr. Loveless dissected the sacs from bees and wasps, ground them and injected her patients with the venom. The patients built up a tolerance and received an annual shot to maintain their immunity. Initially, her methods were questioned by many physicians as too dangerous, but in 1979 the Federal Food and Drug Administration approved a venom immunization against bee stings. Dr. Loveless also discovered blocking antibodies for sufferers of pollen allergies and hay fever. ---------------------------------------------------------------- MacPhil iqti400@indycms.bitnet 1-800-972-8744 x40836 iqti400@indycms.iupui.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jun 91 14:23:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MTS@IFASGNV.BITNET Subject: Mostly to Peter Kevan I can't seem to subscribe to the entomology-l --need more detailed info on the address--neither bitnet nor internet recogizes the first part of the address--no such node; reminds me of Elvis Presley's hit--return to sender...Tom Sanford