On Mon, 14 Feb 1994, Jane Beckman wrote:
 
> A thought just crossed my mind.  Has anyone done any studies on the effect
> of mites on Africanized bees, or is this an untouched area of study, so far?
>
> I find myself wondering if Africanized bees are more, or less, succeptible to
> mite infestation.  This could change the balance of feral honeybee populations
> across the west/southwest, depending on what the answer is.
>
> Jane Beckman  [[log in to unmask]]
>
 
 
 
I don't know where all this line of thought comes from...why should AHB
differ from our strain? They have the same basic tube system and after
all it is only their BEHAVIOR that is different. I really think this AHB
and Varroa mite scare is WAY out of hand. Tracheal mites have been around
for a long time. AFB was once thought to be the end of all bees.
   I feel the Varroa mite and AFB are being demonized way out of proportion.
It would take a lot more than these to change the balance of feral honeybees.
After all...they're not native here anyway so I'm sure this not the first
ordeal the population has faced.