This is an interesting line of discussion. See the discussions at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apis_mellifera_mellifera and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africanized_bee on both bees. In the tropics,
it appears that Apis mellifera mellifera, probably the first honey bee
introduced to the Americas, will persist at higher elevations, whereas at
lower altitudes where it's hotter, the Africanized honey bee
prevails. Both of these bees are pretty defensive, however, the reason
that AMM was replaced by the Italian race Apis mellifera ligustica in most
of North America http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_bee. See my articles
on AHB archived at http://www.squidoo.com/American_Bee_Journal/.
Malcolm T. Sanford
Professor Emeritus, University of Florida
http://www.squidoo.com/apis/
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