I had an interesting experience recently.  I am curious to
know if any others have had the same.  I recently established
two colonies in the northwoods of Wisconsin - in a rather isolated
location.  One was queened with a traditional itialian queen, the
other with a Hawian queen.  After the honey was off this fall,
I placed menthol from Mann Lake on each of the hives.  The bottom
board of the itialian hive had - within 24 hours - 1000's of
varoa mites strewn on it.  the Hawian hive had few or none.
I would anticipate that if the Hawian breeders had the idea that
their bees were that tuff on mites, they would have let us all know.
Has anyone had a similar experience?  Any thought on why the
difference?  Obviously, I will be splitting the Hawian colony
an letting them raise a few new queens for me.
 
Larry Krengel  P30LEK1@NIU
Marengo, IL
(the home of C. C. Miller)