With the discussion on Punic bees, just some details of their introduction in Australia.

There is a record of an import in 1892.  There is an ad from one queen breeder advertising "1 choice tested Italian queen, 1 young Carniolan queen, 1 young Punic queen.  A profitable trio. Carniolan and Punic queens raised from the best imported stock and mated with Italian drones..."  The price was one guinea which would be A$2.10.

Accounts say the race was black and sometimes compared to a caucasian.  There was debate as to whether this bee was suitable for beekeeping in Australian.

In 1904 a description of Punics was "Very good bees, savage, slow in starting brood rearing, breed at the right time when no honey is being gathered, and almost stop breeding when the honey starts and fill the hives right full of honey; as soon as the honey flow stops they again start rapid breeding.  The bees are good white comb builders." This was in Brisbane, Queensland which would be about 26 degrees south.

For what it is worth.

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA