>I believe that the Irish bee, the black bee and AMM are one and the
same(please correct me if I am wrong).

The natural range of Apis mellifera mellifera is larger than any other
European bee. It is native to the area which includes England, France,
Germany, Holland, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, etc. Some researchers include
Spain as well.

The area that Amm is adapted to is extremely varied, although we suppose
that they evolved during a colder period than what we have now. These bees
were *the bees* of the New World for a couple hundred years, until the
attempt was made to get rid pf them in favor of Italian bees. 

The pioneers of American beekeeping (Miller, Dadant, Root, Langstroth) lived
in a cold region ranging from Illinois to Massachusetts. They must have
assured themselves that the Italian was capable of withstanding harsh
winters before they undertook wholesale to replace the hardy black bee. 

-- 
Peter L. Borst
Danby, NY  USA
42.35, -76.50

picasaweb.google.com/peterlborst

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