> is there a path to demonstrating and determining known anti-varroa traits
that is reproducible for other beekeepers in developing a standard? What
would be the parameters for determining this trait?

The gold standard is to compare the MPG (mite population growth) relative
to controls.
See Dr Tom Rinderer's review at
http://www.apidologie.org/articles/apido/ref/first/m09127/m09127.html

Ideally, one starts identical colonies from a pooled, homogenized cage of
mite-infested bees, wait until the adult populations have been replaced by
offspring of the queens to be tested, measure the level of mite infestation
via alcohol wash, and then track that infestation rate over time.

The above method does not limit the bees to any single mechanism.  It is,
rather, a "rubber hitting the road" test to see what happens in real life.
I strongly support beekeepers using this practical method instead of trying
to breed for any specific human-chosen resistance trait.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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