Trying to keep within the frame of this discussion, the way to conserve or re-introduce A. m.m. to the UK mainland is not to select for dark bees that happen to look a bit like A. m. m. but are genetically all over the place, but to use genuine A. m. m. stock and set up strict buffer zones to stop crossing with other bees. A lot of those other bees would have to be eliminated in the process. The use of molecular markers would be a great help in maintaining good stock. 

This is a conservation issue - perhaps a worthy one - rather than strictly to do with producing a good beekeepers' bee. As soon as you start selecting amongst your stock for favourable beekeeping traits, you are departing from the wild type. Probably not what you want if conservation is your goal.

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