Regarding the queries about Graham Pyke and assertions that (and I
paraphrase here) honeybees do not compete with native species, I draw
subscribers' attention to the previously discussed book
_The_Forgotten_Pollinators_ by Stephen L. Buchmann and Gary Paul Nabhan
(Island Press - ISBN 1-55963-352-2) in which there is a lengthy
discussion of this issue.
 
Again paraphrasing, the answer to the question depends on the area.
There may be areas where honey bees have no impact on native species,
as the natives and exotics (honey bees) have different interests - the
exotics may be interested in plant X whereas the natives may be
interested in plant Y.  No conflict.  However, there are documented
cases of direct conflict.  Furthermore, it may be that from the plants'
point of view, the competition between exotic and native is detrimental.
It is revealed that honeybees can be more correctly described as more
efficient pollen collectors as opposed to more efficient pollinators.
When honeybees collect pollen, they wet the pollen with nectar to make
it more packable in their pollen baskets (corbuca? something) and the
wet, packed pollen may not make it to the pistils as efficiently as it
may if dry and carried by a native, co-evolved pollinator.  The honeybee
collects the pollen more efficiently but may not pollinate the flower
more effectively!
 
So, blanket statements such as "Honeybees are detrimental to native
species" and "Honeybees are more efficient pollinators" are incorrect.
It may be the case that in certain areas honeybees ARE detrimental to
native species and in some instances honeybees ARE more efficient
pollinators than natives, but neither is true in all cases at all times.
 
As far as what this has to do with Pyke and conservation areas in
Australia or the price of beans in Boston or tea in China, I have no
idea.  For the whole picture one would have to do lengthy studies on
the native flora and fauna and coevolved relations between the two
before passing judgement on the imports.
 
Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!