> Bees removed from
water meter boxes might be more suggestive
of a climate conducive to the survival of
AHB than it would of the feral population as 

Sure, you could spin it that way, but the authors reach quite a different conclusion:

Africanized honey bees differ from Eurpoean honey bees by
exhibiting stronger defensive behaviors and higher reproductive
rates. Colony sizes tend to be smaller and Africanized honey bees will
use a wider variety of nest sites, including smaller nest cavities,
such as water meter boxes. This combination
of characteristics contributes to the high numbers of Africanized
honey bee colonies in the greater Tucson metropolitan area

Africanized honey bees use many different types of cavities
in urban areas, including tree hollows, openings in buildings, trash
cans, tires, and other spaces of adequate size (Baum et al., 2008).
Water meter boxes in residential areas are, on average, the same
size and shape (i.e., approx. 31.115cmW×48.26cmL×20.32cmH)
and are usually composed of concrete, although a few may be cast
iron.

Ibid.

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