I guess, unless we are getting our bees from a local source, regional adaptation is required for survival. Most of my purchased bees come from Texas or GA (roughly 1200 + miles away) and catch swarms. So far their survival rates are too simular to notice much difference, but I am convinced local bees are best, unless new genetic introduction is the goal.
That said I look forward to the day my bees come from no more than a couple hundred miles away, and have hopefully survived some severe winters.
Still, I beleive honeybees are one of the most adaptaple creatures on the planet. If flowers grew on the poles have no doubt someone would be keeping bees :)
thomas