Strange Landmarks

Okay, that thumb has to be stranger than the bee.

 

Are you familiar with the Africanized bees? They were part of a hybrid experiment with bees in Brazil way back in the 1950s, mixing a form of African bee with other bee varieties. They escaped and began migrating North, completely wiping out the native bee populations along the way and, in the process, mixing with them, become somewhat less potent in the process. Where the Africanized bees moved to, native bee populations were eradicated. Meanwhile, the Africanized bees were thought to be less productive and less willing to adapt to the needs of agriculture. Mostly though, it was the fear factor. Whereas, the European type bees that were there before were not easily provoked and, if someone were to be stung, it would be by only one bee, the Africanized bees would attack in swarms and could be relentless in their attack, which is why they became known as killer bees. The reality, as it turned out, was that they were not as dangerous by the time they reached the US as their reputation suggested because in the 30-some years that it took them to migrate to the United States, they had interbred with other bee populations along the way and, in the process, became somewhat less aggressive. For my part, I did not want a huge killer bee nest in my best orange tree.