>Ollie Visick seems to confirm that with his finding that 50% of feral colonies do not survive the winter

>Preliminary data from the first three field seasons suggests that approximately half of all colonies in tree cavities survive the winter (ODV, unpublished data).

Is this a classic case of bias conformation or what? Half full or half empty?

It is clear, and both agree, that the study population is made up of recently escaped swarms and not of genetically distinct types. As has been pointed out, small disperse colonys can survive for a time due to their environmental conditions and inherent habits but this does not translate into useful application to colonys managed for purpose. 

Paul

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