The postings by Randy and Stan have redirected my sunday morning reading 
away from the usual collection of political joustings in the newspapers, to 
more scholarly articles on the defence mechanisms utilised by insects 
against parasites and pathogens! (Thanks guys, I find that a far less 
stressful way to pass my valuable leisure time).
Although I am not an entomologist I do have enough scientific background to 
understand much of what I have read.
It is clearly apparant that knowledge has advanced tremendously in the 
relatively short time since I last focussed on this subject.

But what has not changed is the importance of the social or behavioural 
immunity mechanisms deployed for protection by colony insects such as 
termites and honeybees. Whilst as Randy has pointed out these differ from, 
and should not be confused with, the innate or humoural immunity systems, 
they are well enough understood for us to be able to take advantage of them 
to improve (eg Hygienic Behaviour selection in honeybees) or reduce (eg use 
of Imidacloprid to disrupt Grooming Behaviour in termites) fitness for 
survival for these insects.

Indeed, at the humble practising beekeeper level, utilising the very simple 
pin killed brood test has enabled us to select for enhanced Hygienic 
Behaviour in our bees. Breeders selection based on this test has made a huge 
impact on the incidence of AFB and Chalkbrood infected colonies in this part 
of the world, as I am sure it has in others. And it costs nothing.

What I have been waiting for is a similarly useful and simple method to 
select for enhanced Grooming Behaviours in honeybees to improve their 
ability to deal with varroa.

I haven't seen any evidence of the development of such a test....maybe I 
missed it?

I have always assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the breeding efforts 
focussed on SMR bees was a move in this direction, since they did appear to 
have quite enhanced grooming characteristics. But I am sure that there is a 
lot more than meets my eyes in that story.

Whilst I am fascinated and encouraged by the work on RNAi and efforts to 
bring products using this technology to market, I am cognisant of the 
limitations that a costly treatment will have in dealing with the varroa 
problem, compared to a more widely, husbandry-based system.

I am just grateful that I live in Western Australia where we still don't 
have the varroa problem.

Peter Detchon

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