We've been breeding bees for millennia. Maybe 7000 years or so. We're pretty good at it.
Honeybees are domesticated animals, like dairy cows. When we need more, we breed more. There's no threat to domestic honeybees as a species or even as an industry. Unlike the native bees, which are being threatened by introduced diseases (both from non-native introduced species like honeybees, and through bulk imports of honey from other continents), encroachment of non-native species (did you know native bees in North America can't pollinate European or Asian flowers?), and possibly pesticides.
I lose hives every year (from winterkill to bear attacks and my own stupidity). A new nuc ("starter pack") is about $300. It would be cheaper and easier to steal from my neighbours, except I have morals.
There was a link on HN a few months ago discussing a new strain of bees [0] being bred up in Canada that are supposedly much more resistant to some of the mites and diseases that are commonly affecting hives. As far as pesticides go, though, I'd imagine that it's going to be pretty hard to develop an insect that isn't affected by chemicals carefully engineered to affect insects; we're going to have to shift away from using these sorts of treatments, neonicotinoids especially, in our agriculture.
Iirc they tried to create a mixed breed with africanized bees which are supposed to be much more hearty. But I think the problem was that they don't mix well the stronger just takes over the weaker.
The honeybee is a domesticated species, and there are breeding programs set on making honeybees more resistant to the mite and virus that are often the cause of colony collapse. It's a tricky process though.
My guess is that genetic engineering of the bees or their microbiome will end up being the solution.
From what I understand, if you took away how dangerous they can be then they dominate the western honeybee in every regard.
I found the line in Wikipedia that makes the claim that "The Africanized bee is considered the bee of choice for beekeeping in Brazil" and the source seems to be a 2009 paper from volume 23 of the journal "Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Research" (Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira) which doesn't exist as volume 23 was in 1988 (see http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_issues&pid=0100-2... ).
Resistant to mites, they seem to have improved ability to forage, etc.
A lot of beekeepers have hybridized African bee hives. They can be more aggressive, so wear a suit and avoid irritating the hive too much and you’ll be fine.
As a bee owner myself (as a hobby), the reality is usually 33% of hives don’t make it Through the winter. This was known back in the 70’s and probably much further (I have a book from then which covers the subject of bee keeping).
From the linked article - 40% seems a tad higher, but if you don’t over winter the bees, have a tough year, w.e. You run a risk.
IMO one of the big issues is lack of biodiversity. Bees need pollen and if they collect pollen from almond fields only, they might not have enough stores because they only bloom for a specific time of year. Further, bees need ready access to water, which deserts / bees on the road dont provide.
Finally, yes pesticides are likely a problem, but again that’s because we are bringing bees to a farm which sprays the stuff.