< "What we see now is brood that was previously capped, then uncapped at the purple-eyed stage, and then (apparently) recapped. >

I've noticed this almost ten years ago occurring in regressed bees.  
I've observed that cells may be uncapped and recapped in 2 or three
days.  The behavior tended to be exhibited in my colonies much
more back than it is today.

 <If so, I want some queens to through into my genetic pool.>

IMO, this trait has yet to be understood OR value to beekeepers
interpreted to assume that it is even beneficial.

In my area, varroa is well handled by the bees,
and I tend not to see this trait exhibited much anymore,
except to a very small degree in very early spring and autumn.

Therefore, I am forming an early opinion that colonies 
in 'my area of low varroa pressure' which are exhibiting
a high degree of bald eyed pupa,  -might actually be more 
suggestive of a colony having higher mite loads or a tougher 
time with mites -perhaps indicating a lacking in a well
balanced degree of other resistance mechanisms.

This 'might' cause me to consider the colony as a candidate 
for culling.  - I'm reading colonies which exhibit a large
degree of bald eyed pupa as a 'stress indicator'.  One 
or two uncapped pupa in very early spring and Autumn, -is
ok and I like to see that occur. 

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/

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