Oh, please do not waste time unless you want too!
I see this....
Story....
#1 Officials shocked that the bees were not AHB. The testing was done in 2000. Nine years ago. We have come a long way in testing from 9 years ago. Not sure what type testing was done, but the reason so much time and money has been spent over the years on perfecting testing verification was due to earlier tests being very unreliable.
#2 No mention of testing
#3 No mention of testing.
#4 I'll get back too... added: I'm not sure the whole play on words about "a strain common to Mississippi" and such. I would of liked to see a straight answer. But lets not get to involved with saying "outside" AHB area. We all know that AHB "area" is anywhere a truck can drive. And I will not blow anyone out of the water...but many know of AHB long ago being released in the south, long before they crossed the Mexican border. ;)
#5 Were digging back to 1880 for a stinging event. No doubt, probably non-AHB. But 1880??? Compared to the many stinging events since the arrival of AHB, this story equates into a one in a million shot. And lets just assume that reporters back then are as bad as they are today.... ;)
#6 See the above comment in #5 but install the date as 1876
No doubt, attacks have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. And it is not due to EHB' and manged colonies. it is directly related to the arrival and spread of AHB.
I'm still chuckling about you mentioning "many" examples, then pulling two stories from the archives of the 1800's.
Thank you for your effort.
Yes, if you dig deep enough, an example of some animal being attacked could be found. (remember though that dogs have reactions and allergies just like humans. Dogs could go into shock from a few stings, just like humans. And those masses of bees numbering and reported as "Thousands" covering ol' fifi, in reality was probably about 10, after the stupid dog was bitting at the entrance of the colony. But the hysterical owner, some dear old lady, was remembered as this flying mass in the thousands. Bet we all heard about those stories from frightened homeowners, huh?) But compare that to the increased level of attacks today, and one can hardly justify that it's due to EHB's or managed hives. It is due to the AHB. Pure and simple.