> > I have yet to hear any suggestion of selective breeding of AHB...
> > ...  We could do
> > a real service to those now keeping AHB if we were to export a
> > mild mannered AHB that had the required mating habits to compete
> > with the feral population.
>
> Tom's answer hits two points that make toning down an AHB population
> problematic.  "Selective breeding" is a good tool in affecting
> change in the characteristics of honeybees.
 
<etc.>
 
A suggestion I have not heard is the idea of fighting fire with fire.
 
The AHB stocks in the Americas are apparently the offspring of only
13? hives brought into Brazil in 1956?
 
How representative of *all* African stock are they?  Likely not very.
 
Africa is a huge continent with many natural barriers, i should
think.  Are there not likely to be numerous sub-strains in Africa
that maybe as prolific as the current strain in america, yet have
more desirable and less anti-human characteristics?
 
I should think that some research into this might pay off quickly.
 
while importing selected African stocks to the US or Canada for
breeding, would be difficult due to regulatory barriers, i should
thing some of the smaller countries might have no laws in this
regard at all.
 
And if the selected strains turned out to be all that good, then
they might -- over time -- chase out the bad strain we now have to
face.
 
flames to /dev/nul/
 
Regards
 
Allen
 
W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper                                         VE6CFK
RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta  Canada T0M 1Y0
Internet:[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]
Honey. Bees, & Art <http://www.internode.net/~allend/>