Hi All I saw a few posts about the AHB problem. Firstly, a reasonable amount of genetic evidence is cropping up to show that the AHB's reaching and entering the US are probably not crossed with the Euro Bees already there. The Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Africanized bees shows that the bees had africanized mitochondrial DNA. This DNA only passes in the female line, therefore the whole beware of african drones thing is a myth. My bets are as follows: African bees are superior foragers and defenders and move about twice as fast as euro bees. They are more evolved because they have more generations per year. So, should an african hive swarm, it will scout about early in the morning, after spending a night in a tree, and find a nice space full of honey with no major defence up. This would be a weak euro hive. Then it will invade the hive by swarming in and take out the queen quite easily. (I have seen a strong swarm invade one of my own weak african hives. A strong swarm can fly early when it is cold and a weak swarm will be so cold it is no good at defence.) Secondly the business about an african queen hatching first is a bit unlikely as well. For the queen to be african it would imply that the queen laying the egg was african (given that the mitochondrial incompatibility probably rules out an african father euro mother story). Hence all the queens will hatch at the same time. My two cents. Six swarms stronger today. Two arrived at my house, and another four easy ones from my area!! Keep well Garth --- Garth Cambray "Opinions expressed in this post may be those 15 Park Road of Pritz, my cat, who knows a lot about Grahamstown catfood." 6140 *[log in to unmask]* South Africa Phone 27-0461-311663 In general, generalisations are bad. But don't worry BEEEEEE happy.