Peter wrote > The other thing we have discussed in the past is the possibility that > varroa in isolated colonies become inbred and suffer inbreeding > depression, while the isolated > bees are still able to get out and > outcross, creating vigor. If as Denis Anderson says that varroa started on mellifera because one mite rcognized the signal to reproduce on mellifera, why would there be any more inbreeding in an isolated area compared to the whole population which started from one mite? Trevor Weatherhead AUSTRALIA *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Access BEE-L directly at: http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L