Katie Lee (&c.) states:

The ability to
randomly select colonies from a known population is a
central tenant [sic] of good survey design, but in practice is
problematic as random sampling requires a near-complete
description and access to the honey bee population,
which is often difficult to attain or create.

Generally, understanding the dynamics of ‘new’ host–
parasite/pathogen interactions does not lend itself well to
direct hypothesis testing, but benefits from surveillance efforts.

[comment: This is especially awkwardly worded, but we get the drift]

See:
Lee, Kathleen, et al. "Honey bee surveillance: a tool for understanding and improving honey bee health." Current Opinion in Insect Science 10 (2015): 37-44.

* * *

Pathogens and parasites may facilitate their transmission by manipulating host behavior. Honeybee pathogens and pests need to be transferred from one colony to another if they are to maintain themselves in a host population. Inter-colony transmission occurs typically through honeybee workers not returning to their home colony but entering a foreign colony ("drifting"). 

specifically, colonies with high Varroa infestation had a significantly enhanced acceptance of drifters, although they did not send out more drifting workers. 

Varroa is not only a bee parasite but also acts as vector for several honeybee pathogens. Only Varroa infestation at the colony level elevated the drifting of foreign workers into that colony. These colonies will therefore eventually serve as sources of pathogens for healthy colonies, eventually spreading pathogens into neighbouring colonies and across the apiary. The apiary provides an ideal ground for highly virulent pathogens such as DVW because transmission is also by Varroa parasitism, reducing the ability of a colony to stem inter-colony transmission.

See:
Forfert, Nadège, et al. "Parasites and Pathogens of the Honeybee (Apis mellifera) and Their Influence on Inter-Colonial Transmission." PloS one 10.10 (2015): e0140337.

* * *

These and other studies reinforce the opinions of experts such as Dr. Spivak, Randy Oliver, and Jose Villa that amateur beekeepers and lackadaisical professionals are sustaining large populations of varroa mites, which are transferred to the colonies of more diligent operators, when their hosts succumb. 

PLB

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