>are you saying that colonies in general  are weaker or limiting your

> comments to those hives that are of lines that show varroa resistance?


In general.  I am just talking off the cuff, without firm data.  However,
when I've reviewed studies that evaluated honey production, queen survival,
and wintering survivability prior to varroa, the data generally make today's
bees look sick.

Realize that there is a bell curve of colony strength.  I feel like it's
shifted to the left.  We still have strong colonies, just not as many.

Randy Oliver

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