> My guess is one queen will not rule them all. A tolerant queen will 
> probably fare well in the first two groups but not in the third because of 
> the number of colonies involved and the proximity of different genetics in 
> the area. If  you have a massive collapse in an adjoining operation, I 
> doubt if the tolerant colonies could handle the massive Varroa load that 
> would be picked up by robbing, the classic sequence that leads to rapid 
> collapse of strong colonies.

Thanks, Bill.  That is my point exactly.

As long as queen producers supply queens that are susceptible to varroa, or 
other diseases for that matter, *the entire community* is at risk.

In my opinion, now that there are number of sources of varroa-resistant and 
disease-resistant genes that can be fairly easily incorporated into 
commercial stocks, it seems to me to be highly irresponsible to knowing 
continue to breed and propagate varroa and disease susceptible stocks -- or 
to buy them.  There is no need.

Let's start a movement.  Everyone who buys queens, please call or write your 
supplier and ask:

1.) What measures are you taking to ensure your stock is tracheal mite 
tolerant?
2.) How hygienic are your bees?  How do you know?
3.) Are you taking measures to increase varroa tolerance in your bees?
     What measures?  How much have you been able to reduce
     chemical applications over the past five years?

I am sure that some will welcome the questions, some will be offended, and 
some will beat around the bush.  That will tell you something.

Keep in mind that if you want well-mated queens, your odds are much better 
when buying from suppliers who use the least chemical treatments. 

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