Mackensen (Journal of Economic Entomology 36(3): 465-467; 1943) found virgin
Italian and Caucasian queens to produce a small percentage (probably no more
than 1%) of female offspring (i.e., workers). He conceded, however, the
possibility that the queens tested may have contained "some African blood"
(e.g., from Egyptian and Punic races) as bees of African as well as Middle
Eastern origin had been introduced into the U.S. during the 1800s.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Brenchley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: The Truth is Out There

>     I assume that Tunisian bees would be A.m. intermissa. If thelytoky and
> multiple queens are found in bees from both ends of Africa, that suggests
> that these characteristics are probably more widespread than commonly
> realised. What I haven't seen is incontrovertible evidence of thelytoky in
> native European bees, though it may be out there somewhere.