Ok couple of things... Bacteria are a bad example to compare with since
unlike varroa they often are capable of horizontal transmission of
resistance through conjugation which is a big reason why a partial kill can
be really bad with antibiotics... Also why reusing them is a problem since
your beneficial gut bacteria can theoretically pass resostance onto the bad.
Also you have to remember survival of treatment does not mean they were
necessarily resistant to any real degree in a partial kill, think poor
vapor distribution etc... Much more likely in a high efficacy kill though.
Also nothing in nature is free, so there is likely a biological cost to
resistance... In the absence of competition no biggie, but it can also be
that there is a reproductive or survival cost to resistance (and likely
is), that means the few no resistant buggers likely could out compete the
resistant ones in a partial kill.
Just more to ponder,
Jeremy
West Michigan
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