Richard Bache
New Bee
... it's probably as much threatened by people breeding by phenotype rather than genotype, or people importing AMM queens from other countries with no research into their genetic background.
I think the dangers of selecting for colour and then wing morphometry are that it seems that no-one has bothered to characterise the mogrel bees that we all love to hate and therefore no-one can be certain what represents a significant characteristic for the purpose of identifying natives amongst the mongrels that are all around us. Furthermore breeding for those qualities will only undermine their use as tools for selecting races of honeybees further.
I am probably erroneous but I am seeing troll like symptoms on what was a thread concerning the native bee. Which is very much alive and well.
Well, yes you are erroneous in the first bit. I am not sure about the second sentance. I would like to see the native honeybee identified and preserved in one shape or form, but there is so much misinformation thrown in by people who have made up their mind and are sticking to it that it is difficult to take any statement seriously.