----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Morris" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 6:26 AM
Subject: [BEE-L] Mite resistance


> >> "There's always a cost to the organism [mites in this case]
> >> in being resistant and if the selection
> >> pressure, i.e. the treatment type, is removed then the
> >> "normal" susceptible characters will once
> >> again predominate in a population."
>
  Unless the breeder continues to cross the originals to keep
> the trait going, the natural selection will eventually remove the
resultant
> strain (pretty bees that produce big crops).

  Unless continuous
> selection occurs, the pressure is removed and things will revert to
> equlibrium.
 Hi Aaron and All,
 I have been working with the Russian stock. In 2002 I requeened 180%.
In 2002 I requeened 50%.  Out of 150+ hives now , I have 100+ that have kept
the mite
down to very low levels.You may find a mite in one out of 100 drone cells.
The game has changed. No fast fixes or silver bullets. It will take a lot of
work and attention
by the breeders and beekeepers.We need a vary large gene pool to keep solid
progress.
Dr. Tom Rinderer is on top of it at this time.Breeders will need to do
better selection and more testing.
 I was talking with Dr. Allen Sylvester face to face a little over a month
ago. It was about Russian stock
and how beekeepers have to change there management to fit the new traits.
There will be something published on the subject in the ABJ. The USDA has
been working on it with other beekeepers.
I have learned a lot over the last 3 years.I know we can beat the mite from
destroying our bees without chemicals.
It takes knowledge , wisdom and patients. The mite will not go away. In
nature the bee would win over time.
That is proven in eastern Russia.  Is the bee good for beekeeping? I don't
know. It can stay alive. That's where we start.
The rest of it is selective breeding with a large gene pool.
 The idea of mite resistance is very complex.We can waist a lot of time
trying to pick it apart.Man is good at that, wasting time putting things in
box's. So we can explain things to each other. There is a place for it, but
right now, we need breeding for results.
Figure out why later.
Everybody Have a Great Day.
Roy

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