>>Here in Australia Dr Ben Oldroyd did some work on this matter.  In the 
study area at least, he came to the conclusion that the feral population 
was a self sustaining population.

Hi Geoff,

Observing the feral recovery here in
my area, I am finding I have been 
called back to certain locations repeated
times over the years.  Investigation
of the areas suggests these places
might be regions containing pockets 
of ferals, or perhaps these are early 
recovery areas. 

>>There may be a few reasons for this.  Australia has a notoriously 
variable climate from year to year.  In a given year at a given spot 
there may be now honey flow at all.  So there will be strong selection 
for hives to cope with this.

I have stated on this list at least as
far back as 2003, -prior to the 
feral resurgence, that I expected the
resurgence to occur first in regions
of the United States which have 
a severe enough winter to cause 
sufficient selective pressure to aid
in the killing of less resistant strains, 
while mild enough to allow strains having
some resistant traits to survive longer.  

Perhaps Allegheny Mountains, Chestnut
Ridge of Pennsylvania and other 
mountainous type habit distant from
commercial beekeeping, which offer
a wider range of environmental pressure
from weather and habitat, while allowing 
for a buffering effect of these pressures by
the mixing of lowland and high land
populations.

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
Pennsylvania
 
 

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