> A possible explanation for this finding is that adaptation of mites to
host cues occurs in these experiments.
This apparently occurred when varroa adapted to using Apis mellifera as a
host.
Now some bee stocks are adapting back.
And we can expect the mite to adapt in return -- the Red Queen hypothesis.
I felt that it was a mistake for the Baton Rouge lab to abandon SMR when
Spivak and Ibraham published their paper on VSH.
SMR would be the first thing that I'd expect evolution to select for.
I'm glad to see that it's back in the forefront.
There are any number of ways that the brood and workers can suppress varroa
reproductive success.
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
530 277 4450
ScientificBeekeeping.com
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html