Hello Bill and All,

Bill wrote:
> My point is that they will be more accurate than either of the two
> trials mentioned where the variables are not controlled, especially the
> mite load.

Dr Harbo counted out exactly 200 mites (I believe) and put those in his test
package hives. I could do the same but I doubt any researcher would say a
strong production hive in spring would have *less* than 200 varroa in the
hive even when a 98% control was used successfully in the late summer.
Bill I am more interested in proving SMR to myself than the rest of the
beekeeping world. I consider my tests very accurate. Selecting for SMR is
not as easy as selecting the hive with the lowest mite count. SMR means
varroa does not reproduce in these hives. A phenomenon we have observed from
the start and Harbo & Harris explored. Six years of work have gone into the
SMR project before we get the queens. Hundreds of these instrumentally
inseminated SMR breeder queens are being tested in the same way I am
testing. It will take two years untreated to say the SMR project a total
success but as Allen says any varroa tolerance is a step in the right
direction.
Bob