J. Waggle wrote:

>Many seem to call 'any swarm' that escapes from a
>beekeeper a feral.
>
>

Yep, they fit the commonly accepted definition of the word.  Several
people have covered that, Jerry B summed it up nicely.  Here's the
deal.  The only honeybees (AM) present in NA were brought here as
managed colonies.  They escaped and are now taking care of themselves.
They continually do this as swarm control for most beekeepers is less
than perfect.  They are, by definition, feral.  They are not native, and
on this continent not, as the geneticists would say, "wild type".

It is really that simple.

Keith

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