Hello All

Recently, a beekeeper said to me that if there is an abundance of mites and
a shortage of brood, that many mites will enter each brood cell to
reproduce. That is accepted. But what he said next is what I am puzzled
about. He claimed that in this situation that the mites may not breed
incestously because of the availability of mites not related as siblings.
And because of this non incestuous breeding, the eggs produced would be more
viable and thus contribute to a major increase in the number of mites.

Is this analysis correct?

Sincerely

Tom Barrett
49 South Park, Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 99