<snip> >Do we still have native strains in the UK? Most of the literature >that I have read suggests that they were wiped out by Acarine >(Tracheal) mites in the early part of this century. Joe Hemmens Yes we do have native Apis mellifera mellifera bees in the UK. They are also widespread in Ireland. Unfortunately for beekeeping, both beekeepers and some literature perpetuate myths and folklore about many aspects of beekeeping. The Dark European Honey bee exists as wild colonies throughout the UK. Standard entomoligical identification by physical characteristics supported by morphometric analysis has always confirmed the Apis m.m. distribution, together with the hybrids mentioned in my previous posting to Bee-L. These analyses confirm that British native bees, Apis mellifera mellifera, are the same as British Museum specimens from last century and the same as 3000 year old specimens from the Jorvic archeological excavations in York. The British Isles Bee Breeders' Association has recently initiated and financed a study to map the distribution and diversity of honey bees in whole of Wales and the county of Yorkshire. It is hoped that some results of this study will be available for presentation at the 3rd International Black Bee Symposium, planned for September 1998 at York U.K. at the college at Askham Bryan. This event was held in Norway last year. If you would like to register your interest in this event contact: Mr Albert Knight, BIBBA Secretary, 11 Thomson Drive, Codnor, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 9RU. United Kingdom. Tel +44 (0)1773 745287 or Fax +44 (0)1773 570461 or by email: [log in to unmask] The origin and diversity of honey bees has been documented from a number of sources by Ashleigh Milner in an interesting and lengthy article published at http://www.angus.co.uk/bibba/bibborig.html Angus Stokes (still buzzin' around at [log in to unmask]) (\ ANGUS (\ STOKES (\ {|||8- {|||8- {|||8- (\ (/ (/ (/ {|||8- (\ (/ {|||8- (\ email : [log in to unmask] (/ {|||8- (\ telephone : +44 (0)1629 813 993 (/ (\ {|||8- fax : +44 (0)1629 814 419 {|||8- (/ URL : http://www.angus.co.uk/ (/