Hi (guru) Garth:
     Well done my friend.  Your explanation surely blew a big old hole
into my knowledge about the theory of development of the European honey
bee races.  However, I still strongly believe that the Iberian honey bees
could possibly have given origin to some of the European bees.  My
thought is based on the fact that there are records of
at least one wild honey bee hive existing during the paleolithic age in a
rocky cliff in the
town of Bicorp, Valencia, Spain.  In my recollection, that is the
earliest existing record of bees on the European continent.  Also,
although I don't have records at hand, I am sure that the moors brought
honey bees to Spain (they brought many other agricultural and animal
husbandry assets).  Honey bees being as prominent as they were in Egypt,
it is only logical to assume that the moors would bring honey bees to a
terrestrial paradise as was southern Spain at the time. Should my
"hypothesis" be right, regardless of the origin of the original Spanish
bees, introduction of Egyptian genetic material could have contributed to
the development of one of the worlds best races of bees, the Iberian.
Based on eight years of experience, I have yet to see a better bee (than
the Iberian).  Granted, they are a little feisty; hence my belief that
they may have african genes in them, but they are hard workers and
disease resistant as any other race with which I have worked.  I am sure
that perhaps you can add some of  your expertise to this very important
thread.
Again, I for one, thank you for contributing with your vast knowledge to
this list.
Your friend.
Pedro