>>I wonder; many parts of Africa have very seasonal  rainfall with 
long dry seasons. There must surely be months on end with little  or 
no forage in some parts of the continent. How defensive are the bees 
there? 

I am not very familiar with forage conditions in Africa between rainy 
seasons.  I have read AHB will readily abscond and move to more 
favorable locations when there is a nectar shortage.  This is another 
trait that was not useful in Europe due to its nectar flow patterns 
and long, cold winters.

Some say this disadvantage keeps AHB from spreading northward in 
North America, too.

Waldemar

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