Over the past year, research has been conducted at the University of
Arkansas-Fayetteville on the genetic diverity of feral and managed
(hobbyist/sideliner) colonies in the central and south central US by DNA
sequencing a portion of the mtDNA COI and COII intergenic regions. Of the 432
samples sequenced, a total of 35 mitotypes were observed which represent all
four A. mellifera lineages known to exist in the United States. Interestingly,
there is evidence of the `M' lineage (A. m. mellifera the "Dark Bee") still
existing (8% of feral colonies), even though this subspecies has not been
preferred by beekeepers for over 100 years. Furthermore, representatives of the
'O' lineage (A. m. syriaca), (11% of feral colonies) have been found which has
not been imported into the US since the 1880's. Surprisingly, analysis of 3
midwest beekeepers have shown that they are keeping these two lineages. To see
where mitotype variation has been analyzed from, go to:
http://comp.uark.edu/~aszalan/Site/Apis/Honey_bee_mitotype_map.html
Further research is currently being conducted on the genetic variation of honey
bees in the commercial and queen breeding industry.