Heres the results of the "Importance of honeybee characteristics",
ranking the listed characteristics in descending order of importance.
Rank was determined by the number of times the characteristic was a "1"
or a "2" in the returned forms. I had planned to do more with the results
but the response was not adequate.
 
Number of responses - 38
Number of useable responses - 29
 
Who responded:
Hobby beekeepers , <10 col. - 12
Sideliners ,   >10<300 col. _ 15
Commercial ,      >300 col. _ 2
 
Honey producers - 27
Pollinators     - 6
Queen producers - 4
from:
North America   - 23
Europe          - 6
U.S.A.          - 19
Canada          - 4
U.K.            - 3
Germany         - 2
other           - 1
 
Characteristic                Rank              score
Honey production                1               13
Varroa resistance               1               13
Tracheal Mite resistance        2               11
Winterability                   2               11
Brood viability                 3               6
Aggressiveness                  4               3
Swarming (lack of)              5               1
Pollen                          5               1
Chalkbrood                      5               1
Comb Stability                  6               0
Color                           6               0