>What conclusion could one draw from Randy's observation?

>
> >1. Feeding, medicating and treating our bees have hindered their ability
> to
> adapt or impacted with natural selection?
>

Of course, but I don't have any negative judgment on that.  That's the
difference between selective breeding of domestic livestock vs natural
selection.  I observed a wide variation among the feral colonies--some were
making far more honey, some were more defensive, some had DWV problems.  I
suggested to the local beekeepers that they practice selective breeding for
or against those traits.

2. The stock we are using is less capable of adapting due to a less diverse
> gene pool?
>

There is considerable dispute among knowledgeable bee geneticists as to
whether there is indeed a lack of allelic diversity in the U.S. bee
population.


> 3. Africanized bees with their smaller colonies manage better or are less
> attractive to pests and parasites?
>

These weren't fully Africanized, and did not have smaller colonies.

--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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