On Sat, 17 Feb 1996, Joel Govostes wrote:
 
> Perhaps mites just weren't up to high enough levels to stunt colony
> development (?).  If I bred queens from the good colonies, presuming some
> resistance, I'd then be wasting my time.  There would be no "resistance,"
> and it would be just a matter of time til the remaining colonies were done
> in.
>
        Joel has made a good point. Some colonies surive because they are lucky.
May be they were the last ones to be infested, or their location in the
yard dicouraged drifting. Using these as breeders would be wasting time
or could even undo progress in an existing program.
 
        And yet we should be looking at survivers. Maybe the scientists among
us could suggest a plan for evaluating suvivors? Maybe a cooperative
effort could be made to gather prospects into a breeding program?
 
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  b                                                              b
  b    Vince & Carole Coppola                [log in to unmask]   b
  b    Coppola Apiaries,                     (716)965-2904       b
  b    10220 Bradigan Rd.                                        b
  b    Forestville, N.Y. 14062                                   b
  b                                                              b
  b    Queens bred for tracheal mite resistance                  b
  b    Honey , Pollination                                       b
  b    Western New York Beekeepers Association                   b
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