Christina, I've wondered the same.
Varroa covers all its bases. By mainly doing brother to sister mating, it
is able to more effectively fix advantageous mutations (such as for
miticide resistance). And by occasionally having multiple foundresses
enter single cells, it allows cross breeding of different family lines (to
help prevent deleterious genetic drift).
I don't know of any research supporting that foundresses seek company.
Varroa practices olfactory camouflage, so it would be dangerous for them to
emit a pheromone that could be sensed by the nurse bees.
--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
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