I don't think one need recourse to geology when talking about any
African/Spanish connection. While as has been said, it's not even
conceivable that during the 7 centuries of Moslem presence there were not
bees moving between Iberia and Africa, one doesn't even have to use this
example. Carthage dominated Spain a thousand years before this. Romans and
Carthaginians even threw bees at each other duing sea battles.

Allen's comments about the Spanish connection providing pockets of African
bees before the Apis m.m. wave would go along way to explain the total lack
of observable differences in some of my South African hives and one in
particular of my Santa Maria Ca. "Black Spanish" hives.

Very interesting topic indeed.

Best
Tim Vaughan