Hi Jim

The very reason we developed strains of pedigreed African (scutellata)
bees was in recognition that wild scutellata are unsuited for
commercial honey production. The conventional wisdom goes
something like this. Scuts produce a (small) meal of honey for you, but
during honey cropping, you are likely to be stung into oblivion. The
disturbance would cause significant mortalities among the hive
population, from mass stinging, but also from stress; the remaining
colony may then simply go walkabouts. Hell of a thing.

You have touched on some negative aspects of wild scuts; a fuller
summary follows:
1. Normally hyper-defensive; large, established colonies are a
menace in any language
2. Highly developed swarming instinct (largely manageable, however,
by judicious and timely provision of extra space)
3. Liable to abscond with little provocation
4. Extremely nervous during handling, leading to stress losses
5. Excessively nervous during migration, leading to stress losses, and
losses from fighting following boiling out. Also, some 10 to 20% of
queens are balled and killed during migration
6. Poor ability to match brood rearing to flow cycle (still going for bust,
for example, near the end of a flow)
7. Prefers warmer climates.

You referred to
> reports that AHBs are, by definition, smaller colonies,
> and are not interested in building up large stores.
And
> reports that AHBs are certainly good foragers, but they
> will consume food as fast as it is collected.

These reports may be correct in certain locations, and at certain times
of the year. However, wild scut colonies managed by an experienced
beekeeper can become quite large, and produce lots of harvestable
honey. For example, some years ago, a South African beekeeper, Mr A
E Schnetler, twice broke the then-world record for honey production.
The larger figure, produced by one multi-queened hive in one year,
was 2120 pounds (yes, more than two thousand pounds).

It has taken years, but the negative characteristics numbered above
have been minimised or eliminated in the pedigreed scuts. The
breeding programme followed the closed system described by the
Americans Laidlaw and Page. Recessive characteristics (such as
docile behaviour) were initially identified in certain wild swarms.
These recessives were combined into various lines of bees, using
instrumental insemination.

We have simultaneously enhanced desirable characteristics found in
the original wild scuts. These include pest and disease resistance,
hygienic behaviour, excellent foraging capabilities, rapid wax and
brood formation, and the ability to survive on marginal flows. In
addition, two of the main five pedigreed lines have been upsized to
enhanced over-wintering capabilities.

I not pretend to have anywhere near all the answers to the AHB
situation in US. But I would stick to the philosophy of trying to work
with, and not against, AHBs. To take but  one example - drone
saturation, an old technique in bee management. Produce loads of
pedigreed drones in a given apiary, and you will soon influence the
genetics of wild bees in the area.

By no means am I suggesting that you should crossbreed AHBs with
your excellent bees. I am suggesting that AHBs in the US should be
managed in themselves. To repeat the point, if scuts can survive in
such prolific numbers in Africa, they can survive anywhere. Cold
temperatures appear to be the only significant limiting factor.

You asked:
> What would we WANT from AHB stock?
Well, allow me to be cheeky here. You might want single hives (with
multiple pedigreed queens, and docile bees that require no treatment
for pests or disease) that produce more than 2000 pounds of honey in
a year. Thing is, they would just have to be scuts.

Barry