> >  Beekeepers in these days are often quoted as saying, "My survivor bees
are
> >darker",  or "My bees are getting darker than they once were".

Years ago, when I stopped selecting for color (in my mostly Italian bees),
and simply started selecting for the best performing bees (this was before
varroa), I noticed that the color tended to drift toward a darkish leather.
My recent mite-resistant lines are yellowish, with an unusual pattern of
black markings.  I'll be interested to see if there is a color drift over
the next several generations.
Randy Oliver
Calif

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