> It is interesting that Bee Culture just published an article on how
> minimum weight was the largest predictor of hive survival no matter what
> queen was in the box.  Study as far as I could tell was in Pennsylvania and
> many of the queens were evidently suppose to display some resistance to
> varroa.
>

Actually it was a study that attempted to evaluate overwintering success of
"northern adapted" stock to "southern adapted" stock when transplanted to
PA. Maryann Frazier gave a presentation at EAS on it in Delaware. If I
remember correctly, one of the 3 "northern" queens came from Mike Palmer,
and one of the two "southern" queens came from RWeaver. While both actively
select for varroa resistance, the breeders weren't selected for that
reason, but instead because they rear "locally adapted" stock.

What was interesting is that northern and southern stock did equally as
well. Hive weight had a large predictor of success, but physical location
and diversity of forage was the largest predictor of overall success. I
figured having more deciduous forest, as opposed to corn and wheat, would
have had better success rates. In actuality it looked like the opposite.

Side note: I'm really happy Maryann chose to publish the article in Bee
Culture, and that Bee Culture chose to run it. Maryann indicated at EAS
that the study was not selected for publication, so she wasn't allowed to
share the data that she presented on (Penn State policy). Which was a
shame, as I saw it as providing significant value to the bee community.
Great to see that it got shared in the end!

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