> Without mitochondrial DNA tests, ahb influence will be unknown outside of guesswork based upon aggressiveness. 

10 years ago I sat in on a meeting of the Apiary Inspectors and that time it was pretty well agreed that DNA testing for "Africanization" was inadequate. Too slow and too ambiguous. This is more so true knowing that the bees from PR have scut blood and are not aggressive. They referred to the "kick test."

The same issue applies to dog breeds. Some breeds are considered by the media to be "mean dogs." In the case of mean dogs and mean bees, the answer is the same: it's the behavior that matters. There is little guesswork involved here. If a dog is vicious and bites people, X the dog. I worked with dog psychologists at the SPCA. They told me that a normal dog should allow you to put your hand in their mouth, and does not get hostile if you take its food away. 

I helped an elderly couple with a hive they established from a package. The bees seemed normal at first, but when they built up they were madder than hornets. I couldn't get near them to examine the hive, they were pouring out like an automatic weapon as soon as I stepped out of my truck. Then, and this is diagnostic, they followed me the 100 yards back to their house. Normal bees will chase a few yards (meters) and feel like they got rid of you. I have seen mean bees like this, you just hide behind the nearest bush. The scut crosses chase half a mile. Having bees like that around does nobody any good.

PLB

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