On Mon, 22 Sep 2003, Eugene Makovec wrote:
>
> If the goal is to let the bees "evolve" till they
> are
> mite-resistant, aren't we actually slowing that
> process by saving bees who would otherwise not
> survive? Next Spring's bees are not inheriting their
> acquired behavior, only their mite load -- would it
> not be better to let both the inferior bees and
> their
> mites perish?
>

A point that I think is worth mentioning, though, is that when a hive
crashes with a high mite load, it doesn't just die quietly by itself.
Instead, a lot of bees evacuate to other hives carrying their mites with
them.  This gives a big surge in mite numbers, even in colonies that have
some resistance to mites.  I've read that even if a colony can keep their
own mites under control, a big influx of mites from a crashing colony can
overwhelm and kill them anyway.

So, if you are going to go this route, don't just let the non-resistant
bees die slowly.  Put them down quickly so that they don't take
all your other colonies down with them.

--
Tim Eisele
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