Indeed the USA does not have an indigenous type of bee and most of the bee 
population there consists of hybrids and because there are no crossings with 
the AMM 

Interestingly, Apis mellifera mellifera was the bee that was originally brought to the new world. In the 1850s it was virtually replaced by the Italian bee. There are still isolated pockets of the descendants of Amm. 

Lots of times people lament the wisdom of using the Italian bee, preferring the Carniolan or some other mixed lineage. However, nobody ever talks about how good the old Amm were. 

People like Sue Cobey have lobbied to get access to European bees to improve the stock here, but it is Carniolan and Caucasian stock they seek; nobody wants Amm for their special qualities. 

To an outsider looking at the UK, France, or Spain for example, it seems a matter of preferring the native bees because "they're our bees" -- like 'em or not.

PLB

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