From: "T & M Weatherhead" <queenbee@gil.com.au>
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 18:48:16 +1000
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com
Subject: Re: Observations.



Chris Slade wrote in reply to David Eyre

> What leads you to believe that your neighbour has descendants of original
> dark European bees?

Even here in Australia we have descendants of the Apis mellifera melliera
entrenched in our feral hives. Whilst not pure, they will influence any
hive that is left in the bush and left to re-queen itself. So I can well
imagine that anywhere in the world that Apis mellifera mellifera was taken
to and survived, it would still be influencing the make up of honey bees.

There is also some stock in Tasmania that is reported to be pure Apis
mellifera mellifera.

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA