> I am not so sure about people moving hives back and forth. Why would they
move bees if there were already bees in those locations? The concept of
moving hives originated from the need for bees in areas where they were not.
The idea of moving a particular *type* of bee did not come about until much
later, probably the 1800s... One cannot assume that bees were transported
across the seas in great numbers without some evidence.

Human nature is evidence enough.  Wherever people go, they take their
favourite animals.  I think that this trait is one constant in human
history.  Even today -- embargos or no embargos -- queen bees are travelling
all over the world in the pockets of beekeepers every day.

A beekeeper sees something he likes and takes a queen home.  This will never
change and, right or wrong,  no law -- short of making transporting queens a
capital offence -- can ever stop it.

allen