> I remember Bill in Maine stating that
> there were no ferals in his area.
> Yet, he mentions in other posts,
> that he is srounded by beekeepers,
> and comrecial beekeepers are in
> the area.
>
> If one were to assume feral bees
> come from managed colonies, then
> I would expect Bill have an abundance
> of ferals, but he claimes to have none.
>

I only have some beekeepers in the area but they tend to lose their bees
every year. The commercial beekeepers are very distant.

This thread started with the observation of lots of swarms this year and if
they were from ferals or from beekeepers.

Based on my observations here in my area, there have been many reported
swarms from established colonies, so the probable swarms are not feral. If
we were ever to have ferals overwinter successfully, it would have been
this winter, which was mild and bees built up very early. Another reason
was we have many new beekeepers who fed much too early (to get a jump on
the season) so induced early swarming.

Today I heard of a colony in a tree at some distance from me. It could be a
feral or not. But if it is, then I would be very happy to know that the
feral population may not be gone in Maine. It is in my area.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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