Hi All THis is an interesting topic!! As Dr Rodriguez pointed out, there has been considerable movement of bees in the meditteranean area. There is some mitochondrial DNA work that shows quite a bit of interbreeding between the bee races on either side of the straits of gibralter. This has made an impact of present day italian bees. It is beneficial in that the impact is in mitochondrial DNA, and that means that one is seeing a transplant of the powerhouse of the african bee. The benefits of this are great, with increased 'fuel' efficiency. However I also read somewhere that there are sometime mitochondrial DNA incompatibilities between C (central european) and A (africa) lineage bees. This is not so for A and M (meditteranean) groups. This may explain why crossing say carnolians and italians is not always good, but can be good. There is a chance of incompatibility. The nile bee on the other hand has a lot of italian bee influence within it. Hundreds of thousands of italian queens were imported during british colonial rule 'to improve' local stock. This left a permanent impression in the DNA's of these bees. Walter, on the topic of the african bee reaching the cape. They have been kept there for reasonable time periods. Even over winters. The problem is however a bee racial one. The cape bee can convert there to cape colonies, so they would never reach the cape naturally. The But A.m.intermissa, the north african bee has been kept in spain quite successfully I believe, and it as an A group bee. Maybe onday the AHB will adapt?? Keep well Garth--- Garth Cambray Camdini Apiaries 15 Park Road Apis melifera capensis Grahamstown 800mm annual precipitation 6139 Eastern Cape South Africa Phone 27-0461-311663 On holiday for a few months Rhodes University Which means: working with bees 15 hours a day! Interests: Fliis and bees Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post in no way reflect those of Rhodes University.