4 ms·

Why killer bees aren't that bad

9 points by Perados 11y ago

mattzito 11y ago
For anyone who has lived in the American South or Southwest in the last 20 years, I don't think there's anything new in this article. Pretty much everyone knew that yes, of course, "killer bees" doesn't mean they're terrorizing the countryside, but it does mean you have to be a lot more careful around them. I remember hearing reports of people being stung to death because they accidentally knocked down a hive while working in the yard or mowed over a burrow. I think everyone, after the initial panic, just learned to recalibrate their behavior around hives and got accustomed to the "new normal".
- whoopdedo 11y ago
  Part of the problem was concern that the invading species would become an epidemic. Think of the stinkbug infestation that started in the eastern U.S. a few years ago. They were blanketing peoples' windows and doors and no one could predict how bad the infestation would become. It would have been frightening if it had been a stinging or biting insect. We now can see that local fauna have adapted to eating the stinkbugs. And maybe some harsh winters helped kill some eggs. Not to mention pesticides that target stinkbugs showing up in stores. But we couldn't have foreseen that. It was just as likely to become another gypsy moth problem. People in the southwest I expect had the same concern about africanized bees. Now, how are you doing with the crazy ants these days?
- Coincoin 11y ago
  Im much more scared of those stupid and aggressive yellow jackets wasps. They like hanging around humans and our food and they will attack you if you look at them strange. Also they give real bees and other wasps a bad rep. The only time a bee stung me was because I was lying on it, I was more sorry for it than me.
percept 11y ago
Being scared was more fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvcApBICFks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvcApBICFks
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
bitwize 11y ago
Now, Asian giant hornets... be VERY afraid of those motherfuckers.
jonshariat 11y ago
Nice try, killer bees.

9 points by Perados 11y ago

For anyone who has lived in the American South or Southwest in the last 20 years, I don't think there's anything new in this article. Pretty much everyone knew that yes, of course, "killer bees" doesn't mean they're terrorizing the countryside, but it does mean you have to be a lot more careful around them. I remember hearing reports of people being stung to death because they accidentally knocked down a hive while working in the yard or mowed over a burrow. I think everyone, after the initial panic, just learned to recalibrate their behavior around hives and got accustomed to the "new normal".

whoopdedo 11y ago
Part of the problem was concern that the invading species would become an epidemic. Think of the stinkbug infestation that started in the eastern U.S. a few years ago. They were blanketing peoples' windows and doors and no one could predict how bad the infestation would become. It would have been frightening if it had been a stinging or biting insect. We now can see that local fauna have adapted to eating the stinkbugs. And maybe some harsh winters helped kill some eggs. Not to mention pesticides that target stinkbugs showing up in stores. But we couldn't have foreseen that. It was just as likely to become another gypsy moth problem. People in the southwest I expect had the same concern about africanized bees. Now, how are you doing with the crazy ants these days?
Coincoin 11y ago
Im much more scared of those stupid and aggressive yellow jackets wasps. They like hanging around humans and our food and they will attack you if you look at them strange. Also they give real bees and other wasps a bad rep. The only time a bee stung me was because I was lying on it, I was more sorry for it than me.

percept 11y ago

Being scared was more fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvcApBICFks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvcApBICFks

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

bitwize 11y ago

Now, Asian giant hornets... be VERY afraid of those motherfuckers.

jonshariat 11y ago

Nice try, killer bees.