Dr. Marla Spivak of the University of Minnesota gave a talk on Varroa Resistant
Bees to the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association last week.  Her
talk was an interesting overview of possible sources of and mechanisms for
resistance to the Varroa mite.

During the presentation, Dr. Spivak clarified some remarks she thought may
have been misunderstood at Apimondia, remarks which were discussed by this
group.  Dr. Spivak's Apimondia suggestion that some yards be left untreated
or treated late was meant solely for queen breeders, she said.  Chemical
treatments would thus not mask the breeder's ability to select for genetic
resistance to bee pests.  She was not suggesting that all beekeepers stop
treating colonies, though some people apparently heard that, nor was she
suggesting that breeders allow colonies to collapse completely.

Her suggestion, that queen breeders allow a window of disease pressure to aid
in selection of resistant bees, was seconded by Reg Wilbanks of Wilbanks
Apiaries in Claxton, Georgia, who also addressed the convention.  Mr. Wilbanks,
who produces some 60,000 queens a year, said that one of his criteria for
selection of breeder queens was freedom from disease.

Both Dr. Spivak and Mr. Wilbanks gave interesting talks, making for a good WHPA
meeting.

Adrian Barta