Hi All
 
THis is an interesting topic!! As Dr Rodriguez pointed out, there has
been considerable movement of bees in the meditteranean area. There
is some mitochondrial DNA work that shows quite a bit of
interbreeding between the bee races on either side of the straits of
gibralter. This has made an impact of present day italian bees. It is
beneficial in that the impact is in mitochondrial DNA, and that means
that one is seeing a transplant of the powerhouse of the african bee.
The benefits of this are great, with increased 'fuel' efficiency.
 
However I also read somewhere that there are sometime mitochondrial
DNA incompatibilities between C (central european) and A (africa)
lineage bees. This is not so for A and M (meditteranean) groups. This
may explain why crossing say carnolians and italians is not always
good, but can be good. There is a chance of incompatibility.
 
The nile bee on the other hand has a lot of italian bee influence
within it. Hundreds of thousands of italian queens were imported
during british colonial rule 'to improve' local stock. This left a
permanent impression in the DNA's of these bees.
 
 
Walter, on the topic of the african bee reaching the cape. They have
been kept there for reasonable time periods. Even over winters. The
problem is however a bee racial one. The cape bee can convert there
to cape colonies, so they would never reach the cape naturally. The
 
But A.m.intermissa, the north african bee has been kept in spain
quite successfully I believe, and it as an A group bee. Maybe onday
the AHB will adapt??
 
Keep well
 
Garth---
Garth Cambray       Camdini Apiaries
15 Park Road        Apis melifera capensis
Grahamstown         800mm annual precipitation
6139
Eastern Cape
South Africa               Phone 27-0461-311663
 
On holiday for a few months     Rhodes University
Which means: working with bees 15 hours a day!
Interests: Fliis and bees
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post in no way
reflect those of Rhodes University.