> Where bees are left to their own devices, populations will 
> stabilize and adapt to localities, with specific genetics 
> in each region, 

If the above were the case, breeders would have none of the
trouble that they do when they attempt to breed bees with
specific traits that persist over several generations.  
The bees would retain traits over successive generations without
the need to constantly "select for" this trait or that one.

> but with human management, breeding and 
> transport, there are numerous competing agendas and techniques 
> of selection, resulting in genetic combinations that might not 
> have evolved 'naturally', and which may not be particularly fit 
> or stable with unnatural concentrations and distribution.

If the above were the case, the basic honeybee would differ between 
the Southern USA and Alberta Canada.  Problem is, they don't differ
much at all, and the same exact bee can thrive in both locations
without much help from beekeepers.  Multiple people have mentioned 
my favorite bees, the "New World Carniolans" in the "Caucasian bees" 
thread, and they each keep bees in very different climates/conditions.
How could people in such divergent climates all like the same bee
so much if there was any tangible advantages to "local adaptation"?

While we all understand Allen's somewhat unique climate, and
his need for extraordinary measures to simply overwinter bees
in his area, his case is an extreme outlier.

I think it is important to keep in mind that the same hive of bees 
could be moved anywhere in the western hemisphere from Northern Alberta 
to Tierra del Fuego, and be expected to both overwinter and make a 
harvestable crop of honey.  Yes, it would need to be wrapped to
overwinter in Allen's backyard, and it would need ventilation to
overwinter well in mine, but these same concerns would apply to 
humans trying to endure the winter weather unique to each location.

This is why I keep challenging the advocates of "localized bees"
with simple questions like "What specific traits are uniquely
required for YOUR area?"  So far, no one can list any traits
that would be uniquely good for their area, thereby falsifying 
the claim that a "localized bee" would offer any advantages over 
a professionally-bred and produced "generic best practices" bee.

Now that I am North of Adam Finklestien, I will be pitting
his best work (impressive varroa resistance) against Sue
Cobey's best work (the bees that paid the mortgage off 
on the entire farm).  Spring will be interesting.

One of the reasons that bees have survived for so long with so
few changes is that they are generalists - flexible, and able
to adapt to such a wide range of conditions.  They remain
generalists, so "regression to the mean" helps to keep bees
adaptable generalists that rather than narrow-focus specialists.
Breeders fight this all the time, and know that they will 
never really "win". 

Breeding any sort of "Better Genetics" requires the breeder
to run as fast as they can to simply stay in the same place.
Maintaining the "better genetics" is a difficult job that
never ends.  The bees will not retain such traits on their 
own, and the breeders make this point all the time whenever 
anyone is within earshot.

Without a constant supply of "new genetics", the breeders
end up inbreeding themselves into a corner in their attempts
to breed that "best practices bee".

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