rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 11, 2012 7:20:11 GMT -7
Last night my wife and I had the strangest experience. We went out into our back yard at about 11pm, and heard some strange buzzing over by our house on the sidewalk. The area is covered by some floodlights that are about 20 feet above. Our hives are about 75 feet away from this area. There were about 20 or so bees that were by our house, and buzzing like crazy trying to fly. The could make it about a foot off the ground, then would crash onto the sidewalk - and then take right back off and crash again, and again, and again. They were moving so fast that I thought it might have been a terminte swarm, but when a grabed a jar and captured one, it was a small bee. I still have it in a jar, and am yet to determine if it is actually one of my honey bees, or some other kind of bee. Then I came across this crazy article about Zombee Bee's, and the description sounded pretty much like what we had witnessed. Has anyone heard about this parasite, or this behavior ?? Not sure yet if I got Zombee'd, but it sure makes we wonder this morning. Interested in some feedback from you guys on this subject. ZomBee Watch
www.scientificamerican.com/citizen-science/project.cfm?id=zombee-watch-san-francisco-state
After being parasitized by the Apocephalus borealis fly, infected zombie-like bees abandon their hives and congregate near outside lights, moving in increasingly erratic circles before dying.
In response to this odd phenomenon researchers have launched ZomBeeWatch.org, a citizen science project to report possible sightings of the parasitized bees. The researchers hope to find out how far the parasite has spread and how many honeybee hives might be affected. So far, the Zombie Fly has been found parasitizing honeybees in California and South Dakota. Help researchers determine if the fly has spread to honeybees across North America.
The ZomBeeWatch site asks people to collect bees that appear to have died underneath outside lights, or appear to be behaving strangely under the lights, in a container or in a glassine envelope. They can then watch for signs that indicate the bee was parasitized by the fly, which usually deposits its eggs into a bee's abdomen. About seven days after the bee dies, fly larvae push their way into the world from between the bee’s head and thorax and form brown, pill-shaped pupae that are equivalent to a butterfly’s chrysalis. |
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Post by bugleman on Aug 11, 2012 16:28:42 GMT -7
Turn off you flood lights...problem solved.
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rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 11, 2012 16:49:10 GMT -7
Turn off you flood lights...problem solved. Not sure if I'm brave enough to face the Zombie's in the dark though...... ....plus I've had the same flood lights in my back yard and the bee hives in the same spot for three years now - and this is the first time I've ever seen any bees flying in eratic circles and then die on the sidewalk at 11pm -- Attachments:
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Aug 11, 2012 18:49:26 GMT -7
Turn off you flood lights...problem solved. I'm with Bugleman. We have no flood lamps. When we go to bed at night there are no lights on, inside or outside. The place is pitch black. If I am sound asleep, flood lamps are of no use other than to run up a big electric bill. But take note next time you drive through the countryside at night at how many houses have every single light bulb both inside and outside iluminated!  |
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rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 11, 2012 20:46:14 GMT -7
Turn off you flood lights...problem solved. I'm with Bugleman. We have no flood lamps. Ok - that's two votes agaist the lights - but I do live in Methland where the kooks steal everything in your yard if you don't have it nailed down, put away, or lights on in your yard to help you see them when you try to shoot them out your bedroom window... All kidding aside. It would appear that this pest hasn't been found in any of our hives in Portland, or you guys would have heard about it. Scary that 77% of the hives is San Francisco that were used in this study had some bees affected by the fly larve though. It sure makes sense that it could be one of the many factors in the colony collapse jig-saw-puzzle, at least in the California based hives. Also seems like some of the traveling beekeepers would be giving the pest a ride around the country as well. Attachments:
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Post by Davidf on Aug 11, 2012 21:09:03 GMT -7
Are you going to collect any and inspect?
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Post by eastsidebuzz on Aug 11, 2012 22:18:00 GMT -7
But take note next time you drive through the countryside at night at how many houses have every single light bulb both inside and outside iluminated! It is those darn left wing city dwellers moving to the burbs who dont know what to do in the dark. They think you need to light everything up. They even put street lights all over the free ways. Why do you need lights if you have headlights. Geez. When you walk carry a flash light we really dont need street lights either. Do you know how much money a city would save if they just bought everyone a flash light and turned off the street lights? And the argument of safety give them a gun. no one is going to try and mug someone in the dark if they think they might be armed. Problems solved. |
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rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 11, 2012 23:01:20 GMT -7
Are you going to collect any and inspect? Yes - I collected one that was alive last night, and three more dead ones this morning, all from the same spot. Sounds like I need to give them about a week and see if the larve pops out. Probably just a coinsidence, but I want to make sure that nothing comes out before I turn the light of and wander around at risk from a Zombie attack - lol |
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rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 12, 2012 22:06:43 GMT -7
Turn off you flood lights...problem solved. Ispecting my zombies tonight gave me a significant thought as to why a few of my bees seem to be flying to the flood light this week, when they have not done so before. It's hot as hell, and a lot of the girls are hanging outside the hive during the night this week. That would of course bring the flood light into view for a few curiousity seekers, who would normally all be inside the hive in complete darkness during cooler nights. Seems likely that the fact they are all hanging out all night, is contributing to the bees thinking that they are dancing in the moonlight under the stars. At least I hope that is the case, cause a Zombee curse is the last thing our Portland bees need to have to deal with. Let's hope the Zombee fly stayes in San Francisco !! (I'll let you know if anything hatches out in my jars). Attachments:
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Post by bugleman on Aug 13, 2012 11:01:51 GMT -7
rjoki that is exactly what I have experienced in years past.
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rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 13, 2012 20:55:09 GMT -7
rjoki that is exactly what I have experienced in years past. Thanks Bugleman, That's exactly what I needed to hear -- that someone else had the same experience -- that way I can feel better in assuming that I don't have a more significant problem like a parasite. I'm going to change the way the light hits the yard, and ignore my nightfliers for now. If it continues when the weather cools down and the bees are mostly sleeping inside, then I will revisit the situation. |
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Post by toddbalsiger on Aug 15, 2012 17:30:12 GMT -7
rjoki
This subject matter came up about 8 months ago, hysteria passed. I believe Ramesh Sagili (OSU bee professor) said it is no big deal, always have had it.
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rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 18, 2012 22:45:38 GMT -7
rjoki that is exactly what I have experienced in years past. Well - I hate to say it, but look what popped out of head of my honey bee seven days after it's flight to the light. When I put this live bee into this jar after it's erratic circular flight under my flood light, there was ONLY one live bee inside. The bee was dead the next morning, and I've been keeping my eye on the sealed jar all week. Today to my shock - the head of the bee has been completely severed, and there are 14 tiny chrysalis around the jar. Believe me when I say that I have not opened the jar, and the chrysalis could have ONLY come from inside the bee. It's head was not severed until after the chrysalis poped out either. I will send the jar to SanFrancisco State for recording, but I'm afraid to say that there was at least one honey bee in Portland that died of the parasitic fly that caused it to become a Zombee. This would have happend with or without my flood light. The flood light only made it possible for me to observe the behavior. If anyone has another idea about who should see this jar before it goes to San Francisco, please let me know. Sorry guys, but it looks like they are here afterall. Attachments:
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rjoki
Worker Bee
Posts: 144
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Post by rjoki on Aug 18, 2012 22:47:56 GMT -7
Here is a better close up of the chrysalis. My photo are through the glass jar at this point so these are the best I can do without taking them out of the jar. Attachments:
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kyle
New Bee
Posts: 7
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Post by kyle on Aug 23, 2012 20:49:45 GMT -7
Hello Beeks,
Like Robert, I have been submitting notes and photos to zombeewatch.org . I had held off on announcing anything on this forum while waiting for verification from John Hafernik as to whether A. borealis or some other phorid fly is the culprit with my bees.
Hafernik sent me contact info for rjoki, stating that he was also reporting zombee behavior in the Portland area. I contacted rjoki via email, and he directed me to his posts at this forum.
What convinced me to submit to zombeewatch.org was that bees were flying into a light bulb when I would dine outside on the deck. I have since set up an intentional light trap and have captured a number of bees with it.
I have read that A. borealis has been reported within 10 miles of Oregon. I think it is possible that zombee behavior is under-reported in the state. If you see strange behavior in your bees, consider posting your findings to zombeewatch.org .
Kyle
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