Calkins, Rob wrote:
Dear Rob:
BTM are not readily seen without the help of magnifying instruments.
Varroa mites are visible and quite agile while they are on the surface
of the host bees.
In all my experience with Varroa mites I have not observed them to
demonstrate the type of activity that you describe.  I have isolated and
kept Varroa mites "in vitro" but they become lethargic soon and don't
last very long.
You did not state where you saw the mites, but I tend to think that they
were not bee mites.  On the other hand, that does not rule out the fact
that you might have bee mites. Good luck.
Best regards.
Dr. Rodriguez