Biology : science studies the Africanized bee (1979)

Lynx Birds foundry proudly brings you this issue of the science screen report the nation's leading independent foundry has been a growing part of the Lynchburg community since 1896 we manufacture quality engineered castings using 2800 degree molten iron and automated equipment to shape intricate parts chemical and physical analysis form the backbone of Lynchburg quality control program precision castings are used in a variety of industrial and consumer products experience technology quality and the foundries greatest asset people have combined to make Lynchburg foundry the leader in its field at mao-a science green report [Music] the science green report bringing you each month the latest developments in science engineering and medicine made to help solve the problems of modern life [Music] across the world the familiar B plays a vital role in food production pollinating fruit orchards as well as major food crops bees also produce honey and collect pollen important sources of nutrition at the same time the honeybee shares with other parts of nature a potential for harm to man reports of the spread of so-called killer bees are one more reason for ongoing scientific research into this insect [Music] besides producing much of the world's sweeteners the bee pollinates important food crops including apples avocados oranges melons and onions bees also pollinate clover and alfalfa which feed cattle and poultry perhaps a third of the food supply in many countries depends on the activity of bees because of their role in food production bees were imported to the new world as early as 1600 ad today beekeeping is an advanced science a vital component of agricultural practice man-made hives are trucked to orchards and grazing areas in order to multiply plant crop yields recent scientific efforts to improve bee culture include a special well-rounded meal available year-round at the bee laboratory in Madison Wisconsin experts develop this food for bees a nutritious pollen cake made from several ingredients bee pollen produced during summer combined with soy flour some sugar and water the cakes are placed in the hives during late winter and early spring stimulating more brood production which yields a greater bee population and so more honey and more pollination to hold the new generation special high-rise hives were created [Music] another improvement this air blower device brushes B's aside facilitating honey collection bees once spread by natural migration today B scientist dr. Floyd molar packages worker bees to start hives in another part of the country first carefully removing the valuable queen bee [Music] other experts are working on a new crop for future pollination by bees the soybean flowering varieties seem to have more success in attracting bees so through plant breeding an attractive flower will be incorporated in the hybrid soybean of the future the use of new types of agrochemicals has affected pollination by bees to better understand these effects six agricultural research stations are now conducting controlled experiments at the Tucson Arizona station research goes on year-round in a variety of artificial environments in this hot house scientists chart beam movements and other activities recently Dhani analysis has proven a sensitive pollution detector the bees unwittingly collect the pollutants deposited or absorbed on plant life as they gather pollen and nectar at the University of California at Davis professor Norman Gary has devised a new way to study bee movements the bees are first anesthetized to prevent stinging next magnetic tags are attached to the insects the colored and numbered tags allow the researchers to track the bees after they are released [Music] all hives in the investigation area are equipped with small magnets at their entrance ways [Music] as the tag B reaches the hive the metal tag is attracted to the magnet the bee shakes off the tag and proceeds unharmed into the colony formerly research bees were marked with paint and the hives later searched extremely unpleasant and time-consuming tasks [Music] analysis of the record of collected tags will give data on B flight patterns and speeds from this information the researchers can infer which plants and areas the bees colony and other facts about their foraging habits all this research should help improve bee survival rates and pollination capabilities resulting in increased global food outputs two decades ago special problems arose when a productive but aggressive beast reigned from Africa was introduced into Brazil the new strain established wild colonies then crossed bred with local strains the resulting Africanized bees began to spread causing injuries and even fatalities in 20 years the Africanized bees have covered over half of South America and continue to move north at the rate of 600 kilometers per year causing concern to both the public and the beekeeping industry [Music] in response a major Department of Agriculture research study of the Africanized bees is underway in French Guiana and Venezuela at the top of South America [Music] here dr. Orly tailor of the University of Kansas is striving to collect data that could lead to ways to deal with the undesirable variety in particular research has verified that wild swarms which land on domestic hives may African eyes those hives making it difficult for beekeepers to manage them for both honey production and pollination of food crops [Music] studies of be aggressiveness are also carried out dr. Taylor an experienced researcher who has developed a limited immunity to stings has devised ways to reduce the bees ferocity [Music] in planned experiments dealing with aggressiveness he deliberately disturbs a bee colony studies have shown the Africanized bees give chase in larger numbers and are more aggressive than local bees but individually are no more dangerous [Music] the car dr. Taylor is holding up is used to evaluate the bees stinging tendency note that Africanized bees like other bee strains seem to prefer the dark spot these and other tests led the experts to conclude that the Africanized bees are no more killer bees than familiar domestic honey bees instead the Africanized bees problem centers on their tendency to swarm that is to multiply and spread swarming commences when the bees first reduced Queen cells potential offspring who will inherit the old hive the queen bee and a large group of worker bees then settle elsewhere temporarily [Music] this mass sends out Scouts to locate a permanent new home such as a hole in a tree when located the swarm moves to its new abode the experts determined that Africanized bees swarm several times a year splitting into two or three colonies each time yielding as many as 12 colonies annually in the same year a domestic I would only form two colonies moreover the Africanized bee swarm can travel up to 60 kilometers in some cases swarms have colonized islands 30 kilometres from land [Music] as colonies continue to spread their sheer numbers will tend to increase stinging incidents and disrupt the beekeeping industry thereby affecting agriculture [Music] aggression and swarming are triggered by chemical odors that are released by the bees one research goal is to devise synthetic smell chemicals that could be used to manage the bees this tests chemical causes them to cluster and become passive and so may aid in their control [Music] besides the field studies research centers are discovering new facts to help deal with the Africanized bees [Music] at the University of California a system for detecting African ization has been developed identification is by distinctive features in Baton Rouge Louisiana experts in genetics are breeding special queen bees to replace the unwanted Africanized Queens in Florida these findings are being applied in a massive Queen rearing program the large numbers of Queens bred here could be used to restore Africanized colonies to useful honey productivity [Music] [Music] in time these and subsequent research programs should find ways to manage the Africanized varieties as well as promote beneficial relationships between men and bee [Music] lynchburg foundry has been proud to bring you this issue of the science screen report to further your understanding of science engineering medicine and technology [Applause]