Africanized bee and List of political parties in Japan: Difference between pages

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'''Africanized bees''' are hybrids of the African [[honeybee]], ''Apis mellifera scutellata'', with European honeybees. They are descended from 26 [[Tanzania|Tanzanian]] [[queen bee]]s accidentally released in [[1957]] in Southern [[Brazil]] from hives operated by [[biologist]] [[Warwick E. Kerr]], who had interbred [[Europe]]an honeybees and [[bee]]s from [[southern Africa]]. Hives containing these particular queens were noted to be especially defensive. Kerr was attempting to breed a strain of bees that would be better adapted to [[tropics|tropical]] conditions (i.e., more productive) than the European bee used in [[North America]] and southern [[South America]].

{{Politics of Japan}}

==Aggressiveness==

'''Political parties in Japan''' lists [[political party|political parties]] in [[politics of Japan|Japan]].

Africanized bees are characterized by their aggressiveness in establishing new [[hive]]s and in their vigorous defensive behavior, attacking perceived hunters, including people. Over the decades, hundreds of deaths in the Americas have been attributed to them, many resulting from multiple [[bee sting]]s. This defensiveness has earned them the nickname "killer bees", the aptness of which is debated. European honeybees also kill people due to allergic reactions, and it is difficult to estimate how many more people may have died than would have in the absence of Africanized bees.

<!--:''The general rule on naming applies. That means: the parties are named in the English translation and the original native name is placed on the first line of the article unless the native form is more commonly used in English than the English form. Rationale and specifics: See: [[Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English)]]''.-->

==Geographic spread==

As of [[2002]] they had spread from Brazil south to northern [[Argentina]] and north to [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], [[Mexico|México]], [[Texas]], [[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]], and southern [[California]]. They are spreading north at a rate of almost [[1 E3 m|two kilometers (about one mile)]] a day. In tropical climates they compete effectively against european bees. There have been many opportunities to control this pest by the introduction of non-defensive relatives, particularly at the Isthmus of [[Panama]], but various national and international agricultural departments proved themselves incapable of action, and remain so to this day. Note that this same species is kept in [[South Africa]] using common beekeeping practices without problems of excessive defensiveness.

==GeographicMajor limitsparties==

*[[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) ''Jiyū Minshū-tō'', or ''Jimin-tō'' 自民党([[Conservatism|conservative]], 1955-)

Recent evidence suggests that africanized honeybees are less able to survive a cold winter. This is seen in the southern limit of the spread of africanized bees in eastern [[South America]]. There are now stable geographic zones in which africanized bees dominate, a mix of africanized and european bees are present, and in the southern reaches only non-africanized bees are found. As the africanized honeybee migrates further north through [[Mexico]], colonies are interbreeding with European honeybees. This appears to be resulting in a dilution of the genetic contribution of the African stock and a gradual reduction of the aggressive behaviors. Thus Africanized bees are expected to be a hazard mostly in the [[Southern United States|Southern States]] of the [[United States]]. In California they have been seen on the Pacific Coast as far north as [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] and are expected to eventually occupy the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. Within the [[Central Valley]] in 2004 africanized bees were involved in an attack in [[Modesto, California|Modesto]], having previously (2003) been seen in [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]]. The cold weather limits of the africanized bee have driven professional bee breeders from Southern California into the harsher wintering locals of the northern [[Sierra Nevada|Sierra Nevada (US)]] and southern [[Cascade range|Cascade]] range. This is a more difficult area in which to prepare bees for early pollination placement, such as is required for the production of [[Almonds]] as the bees must be feed, rather than released for foraging.

**The LDP is Japan's largest political party and the senior partner in the current governing coalition. Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]] is a member of this political party. It is a [[Conservatism|conservative]] party of the [[right-wing]] and is made up of various conservative and reformist factions. The LDP has been in power almost continuously since [[1955]], when it was formed as a merger of early postwar Japan's two conservative parties, the [[Liberal Party of Japan, Occupation]], and the [[Democrat Party of Japan, Occupation]]. The party is characterized as being very conservative on social and foreign matters.

*[[Democratic Party of Japan]] (DPJ) ''Minshūtō'' ([[social liberalism|social liberal]] 1998-)民主党

**The DPJ is Japan's second largest party and leads the opposition. It is a [[social liberalism|social liberal]] party. It is the largest opposition party, and was formed in the late 1990s as a result of the merger of several anti-LDP parties. Quite [[Liberalism|liberal]] and oppositional on key issues, as well as moderately [[social-democratic]]. It is against the Iraq war, and was led by Seiji Maehara until the end of March 2006, when he resigned due to a crisis involving a DPJ member (Hisayasu Nagata) making false allegations that the son of LDP Secretary-General ([[Tsutomu Takebe]]) illicitly received money from former [[Livedoor]] president [[Takafumi Horie]]. As of [[April 5]][[2006]], [[Naoto Kan]] and [[Ichiro Ozawa]] are running for DPJ party president.

*[[New Komeito]]* ''Komeitō'' ([[Conservatism|conservative]], [[theocratic]] [[Buddhist]], 1998-)公明党

**formerly [[Komeito (Former)]] ([[centrist]], [[theocratic]] [[Buddhist]], 1964-1998)

**formerly [[Komei Political Assembly]] ([[centrist]], [[theocratic]] [[Buddhist]], 1961-1964)

**The Shin Komeito Party (Japanese name for the New Komeito) is Japan's third largest party and the governing party's junior partner. It was formerly known as the [[Clean Government Political Assembly]] and the [[Komeito (Former)|Komeito]]. The party is a [[Conservatism|conservative]] party of the [[right-wing]], but it is also well supported by organizations like the [[Soka Gakkai]], a sect of [[Nichiren Buddhism]]. Therefore, it is also considered a [[theocratic]] Buddhist party. It has moderated its stance however. Because it is partners with the LDP, it is unopposed to the war in Iraq. It is now led by [[Takenori Kanzaki]].

*[[Japanese Communist Party]] (JCP) ''Nihon Kyōsan-tō'' (communist, 1922-)日本共産党

**The Japanese Communist Party is Japan's fourth largest party and the middle partner of the opposition coalition. It is a [[moderate]] [[communist]] party of the [[left-wing]]. Though it is communist, it is not against religion and does not want the [[emperor]] to step down. It supports multi-party democracy and does not advocate the imposition of radical change on Japanese society. It is considered pacifist and skeptical of the [[United States]].

*[[Social Democratic Party (Japan)]] (SDP) ''Shakai Minshūtō'', or ''Shamin-tō'' (socialist, 1996-)　社民党

** formerly [[Japan Socialist Party]] (JSP) ''Nihon Shakai-tō'' (socialist, 1945-1996)日本社会党

***a breakaway group formerly known as the [[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)]], now defunct, (social-democratic, 1960-1996)

****in 1948 split up into the [[Rightist Socialist Party of Japan]], (moderate social-democratic, 1948-1955), and [[Leftist Socialist Party of Japan]], (extreme socialist, 1948-1955), in 1955, reunified into JSP.

**The Social Democrat Party of Japan is Japan's fifth largest party and the junior partner in the opposition coalition. It is a [[moderate]] [[social-democratic]] party of the [[left-wing]]. It is seen more as a [[moderate]] social-democratic, and [[populist]] party rather than a [[revolutionary]] [[socialist]] party. It grew out of the [[Japan Socialist Party]] and the [[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)]] It is opposed to the war in Iraq.

== Minor parties==

==Difficulty in determination==

*[[Liberal League]] ''Jiyu Rengo'' (liberal, 1994-)

The popular term 'Africanized bee' has only limited scientific meaning today because there is no generally accepted fraction of genetic contribution used to establish a cut-off. While the native african bees are smaller, and build smaller comb cells, than the european bee, their hybrids are not smaller. They do have slightly shorter wings, which can be reliably recognized only by performing a statistic analysis on micro-measurements of a substantial sample. One problem with this test is that there is an also an egyptian bee, also present in the southeastern United States, that has the same morphology.

**The Liberal League is a [[right-wing]] party in Japan, which, despite its name, is actually [[Conservatism|conservative]]. The Liberal League has 1 seat in the Diet.

*Other minor parties

**Japan has other minor parties with national support, mostly with [[communist]] and [[socialist]] ideologies, as well as a few [[nationalist]], [[reformist]], and far [[right-wing]] parties.

*Dissidents from the LDP formed the following parties in 2005 :

***[[People's New Party]] (PNP) ''Kokumin Shintō'' ([[Conservatism|conservative]], 2005-)

***[[New Party Nippon]] (NPN) ''Shintō Nippon'' (2005-)

***[[New Party Daichi]] (NPD) ''Shintō Daichi'' (2005-)

===Existing national parties represented in the Diet in the past===

==Effects of selective breeding==

===In the European Bee (intentional selection)===

The chief difference between the European races or subspecies of bees kept by American beekeepers and the Africanized stock is attributable to selective breeding. The most common race used in North America today is the Italian bee, ''Apis mellifera ligustica'', which has been kept for several thousand years. Naturally beekeepers tended to eliminate the fierce strains as they did, and the entire race of bees has thus been gentled by [[selective breeding]].

Current political parties that used to be in the Diet but aren't currently represented:

===In the African Bee (natural selection)===

In central and southern Africa, bees have had to defend themselves against other aggressive insects, as well as honey badgers, an animal that also will destroy hives if the bees are not sufficiently defensive. In addition, there was formerly no tradition of beekeeping, only bee robbing. When one wanted honey, one would seek out a bee tree and kill the colony, or at least steal its honey. The colony most likely to survive either animal or human attacks was the fiercest one. Thus the African bee has been [[natural selection|naturally selected]] for ferocity.

* [[Dainiin Club]] ''Dainiin Kurabu'' ([[centrist]], 1983-)

==The Assassin Bee?==

* [[New Socialist Party (Japan)|New Socialist Party]] ''Shin Shakai To'' (socialist, 1996-)

* [[Sports and Peace Party]] ''Supotsu Heiwa To'' (centrist, 1989-)

* ''[[Takeru]]'' (centrist, 2001-)

===TheOther loreparties===

* [[Rainbow and Greens]] ''Niji to Midori'' (green)

In [[Brazil]], ''Apis mellifera scutellata'' and its hybrid is known as the ''[[Assassin]] Bee'', for its supposed habits in taking over an existing colony of european bees. According to this lore, their queen waits outside while several worker bees infiltrate the hive by bringing in food, where they will then locate and kill the queen. The new queen will then enter and take over the hive.

* ''[[Ishin Seito Shimpu]]'' (far-right, 1995-)

* [[Women's Party]] ''Josei To'' (Feminist, 1993-)

* [[Internet Breakthrough Party of Japan]] (Led by Iron Chef Comentator and Judge and former LDP member Shinichiro Kurimoto)

===Regional parties===

===The danger to apiculture===

Some of the main regional parties represented in regional assemblies:

It has been established that in a partially africanized hive these aggressive bees can even "recruit" more gentle bees in attacks upon intruders. If true, this habit can make africanized bees dangerous in areas where European bees are kept for agricultural purposes, since an existing queen may be replaced without the usual out-swarming or supercession, conditions more readily observable by the beekeeper.

* [[Kanagawa Network Movement]] ''Kanagawa Nettowaku Undo'' (Yokohama, socialist)

===Genetic evidence===

* [[Seikatsusha Network]] ''Seikatsusha Nettowaku'' (Tokyo, socialist)

Evidence for the accuracy of this report can be found in the fact that of africanized bees in Brazil, about one third have [[mitochondrial DNA]] indicating a female ancestor of african origin. If the africanization was attributable only (or even mostly) to the well known superior breeding efficiency of africanized (male) drones, such "mother" DNA would much less prevalent. Although some bee species (such as the Cape Bee ''Apis mellifera capensis'' of South Africa) are known to be able to propagate additional females via egg laying female workers, this is not believed to occur in ''a. m. scutelatta''.

* [[Okinawa Social Mass Party]] ''Okinawa Shakai Taishu To'' (Okinawa, socialist)

*[[Green Niigata]], ''Midori Niigata'' (Niigata, communist)

**formerly [[Niigata New Party for People]], ''Shimin Shin-to Niigata'' (Niigata, communist)

==Defunct parties==

===Behavioral evidence===

''Apis mellifera scutellata'' is well known for sending from the hive numerous tiny swarms - a queen and only a few attendants. Such a small swarm should be incapable of starting a colony on its own, lacking enough workers for all the tasks required to support a queen. For this behavior to have survived through [[natural selection]] it may be arguably inferred that it likely has some utility to the survival and propagation of the species. The supposed assassin behavior is not inconsistent with this argument and is actually reinforced by it.

* [[Association of Independents]] ''Mushozoku no Kai'' (centrist, 1999-2004)

==Gentle africanized bees==

** formerly [[House of Representatives Club]] ''Sangiin Kurabu'' (centrist, 1998-1999)

Not all Africanized hives are defensive; some are quite gentle, which gives a beginning point for beekeepers to breed a gentler stock. This has been done in Brazil, where bee incidents are much less common than during the first wave of the Africanized bees' colonization. Now that the Africanized bee has been gentled, it is considered the bee of choice for beekeeping in Brazil. It is better adapted to the tropics and so is healthier and more industrious than European bees.

*[[New Conservative Party]], (conservative, 2002-2003)

**formerly [[Conservative Party of Japan (2000)]], (conservative, 2000-2002)

*[[Liberal Party (1998)]], (liberal, 1998-2003)

*[[Democratic Party of Japan (1996)]], (liberal, 1996-1998)

*[[Good Governance Party]], (liberal, 1998)

*[[New Fraternity Party]], (liberal reformist, 1998)

*[[Sun Party]], (liberal reformist, 1996-1998)

*[[Democratic Reform Party]] (liberal reformist, 1993-1998)

* [[Midori no Kaigi]] ''Environmental Green Political Assembly'' ([[ecologist]] [[Conservatism|conservative]] [[reformist]], 2002-2004)

**formerly[[The Sakigake Party]], (conservative reformist-ecologist, 1998-2002)

**formerly [[New Party Sakigake]], (conservative reformist-ecologist, 1993-1998)

*[[New Peace Party]], (conservative, 1997-1998)

*[[Japan New Party]], (liberal, 1993-1996)

*[[Japan Renewal Party]], (liberal, 1993-1994)

*[[New Frontier Party]], (socialist/liberal, 1994-1997)

*[[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)]], (social-democratic, 1960-1994 - broke off from JSP)

*[[Democratic Party of Japan, Occupation]], (agrarian conservative, 1945-1955)

*[[Liberal Party of Japan, Occupation]], (conservative, 1945-1955)

*[[Great Achievement Association]], (conservative nationalist, 1889-1909)

**formerly [[Conservative Party of Japan (1880)]]

*[[Constitutional Liberal Party (Japan)]], (liberal, 1882-1931)

*[[Constitutional Progressive Party]], (moderate liberal, 1882-1934)

*[[Liberal Party of Japan (1881)]], (liberal, 1881)

**formerly [[Aikoku Koto|Aikokusha]], (liberal, 1872-1881)

*[[Liberalism in Japan]]

==Queen management in africanized bee areas==

In [[Mexico]], where africanized bees are well established, pollination beekeepers have found that a purchased and pre-bread non-africanized queen may be used to locally create a first generation of virgin queens that are then bread in an uncontrolled fashion with the local wild africanized drones. These first generation africanized queens produce worker bees that are manageable, not exhibiting the intense and massive defense reactions of subseqent generations. This offers a relatively economical method of safe local beekeeping under what would otherwise lead to hazardous conditions.

Japan has other minor parties not represented in Parliament (which have never been represented before), mostly [[reformist]], [[liberal]], [[nationalist]], [[socialist]], and [[communist]] parties.

== How to avoid bees ==

:''Ways to browse Wikipedia for political parties are by [[Index of political parties|name of the party]], [[List of political parties|country]], [[List of political parties by ideology|ideology]] or by [[List of political parties by ideology#Trans-national world groupings and parties|membership of internationals]] and through the category system: especially by [[:Category:Political parties by country|country]] and [[:category:political parties by ideology|ideology]].''

=== Use caution with power mowers ===

Bees are sensitive to low frequency vibrations and so an engine driven lawn mower may elicit a defense response from a hive or swarm.

[[Category:Japan-related lists|Political parties]]

=== Walk with care in clover and near picnic sites ===

[[Category:Lists of political parties|Japan]]

Take care not to walk barefoot on lawns containing blooming clover, which attracts foraging bees. Meat eating wasps can be attracted to food scraps near a picnic site and usually forage close to the ground.

[[Category:Political parties in Japan| ]]

[[es:Partidos políticos de Japón]]

=== Avoid perfume, cologne and scented cosmetics ===

[[ja:日本の政党一覧]]

Foraging bees will seek out floral scents. Such a bee will be harmless to you unless you swat at it, as it is only trying to find a flower. Yellowjackets can be much more aggressive, even to the point of biting.

[[vi:Đảng phái Nhật Bản]]

=== Beware of head-butting bees ===

Honeybees usually have a small number of sentry bees patrolling the perimeter of the hive's territory. In some if not most cases, these sentry bees will initially [[head-butt]] (not sting) any animal that enters the hive's territory. If the animal continues closer to the hive, stinging will ensue.

If bees start head-butting you, use this behavior as a warning to ''retrace'' your steps and walk away from the hive. Choosing any other path could lead you deeper into the hive's territory.

=== Wear light colors ===

Honeybees react to dark colors. Knowing this, beekeepers always wear white (or light colored) protective suits when working with bees during daylight. Bees have poor night vision and so beekeepers wear dark colors when collecting swarms after sunset. When traveling through areas with bees, wear light colors to avoid attracting bees. Bees are inactive at night and are unlikely to be encountered unless you bump into a resting swarm.

=== Water meter chambers ===

While an occasional behaviour of european bees, african and africanized bees are known to frequently nest in ground cavities. In suburban areas, a favored place is the in-ground concrete chamber that contains a [[water meter]]. The small lifting hole in the cover becomes the entrance to their hive. If the outside air temperature is over 60&deg;F (15&deg;C) you will probably see bees using this entrance if they are present, otherwise, use caution if you are in an area known to have africanized bees.

=== Open air hives ===

While all bees may build open air hives in mild climates, this is much more prevalent with africanized bees (as well as certain "rafter bees" native to southeast Asia). African bees are also much more migratory and can move the colony to an entirely new ___location in pursuit of good foraging (leaving behind their combs at the old ___location, which may be reoccupied by other swarms in the appropriate season).

==See also==

* [[Bee]]

* [[Honeybee]]

* [http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/noframe/x189.htm U.S. Department of the Interior National Biological Service]

* [http://www.algonet.se/~beeman/za/za-1.htm Barry Sergeant, keeper of "killer bees"]

[[category:insects]]

[[de:Afrikanisierte Honigbiene]]