Is epigenetic inheritance also reason enough to say that "local bees" may develop into a somewhat stable ecotype?

The key word is "somewhat".  Every generation will be influenced by the conditions experienced by the previous generation(s)....this is the "epigenetic" feature....but will also be normally altered via the fundamental genetics of successive matings (the gene pool).  To produce "local" bees also depends on whether queens are able to mate with mostly local drones.  For that to happen in my area, there has to be "beekeeper intervention", because many hundreds of migratory colonies appear every spring.


Ideally you'd have replaced your queens before the migrants arrive, and then hope there are relatively few supercedures among colonies during the summer.


Christina


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