On Thu, 28 Nov 1996, D.C.Mink w
> What do the mites do that kills bees? What more familiar process might it
> be compared to?
>
 Hi Deborah, The above questions have a few answers.The last part is more
like AIDS than anything else that I know of in our country (USA).Varroa is
a vector for 3 Viruses. We have a general way that a hive will die with
varroa.PMS  parasitic mite syndrome. It is a combination of bees weakened
by Varroa sucking the blood (hemolymph) out of them and giving them a
virus. When I lost 50 hives in the fall of 95 to Varroa , they were being
overcome by more than being just weak.They were droping too fast ,( 30
days or less).A virus could cause that type of behavior. I wrote at that
time to Dr. Christine Peng at UC Davis and she told me that she was just
getting started on a grant to explore the relationship of Varroa and
viruses.I was able to get some very good info from Dr. Tellie Welsh up in
Ontario Canada.She told me to send up a sample for testing , but by that
time I did not have a good sample to send her. She did say, that they had
one antiserum and were working on more. She works with Dr Brenda Ball in
the UK. Now we have the USDA ,headed by Dr. Shimanuki working on the
virus/varroa problem.This is a very complex relationship and the
researchers are learning more every day. It is like HIV and we have no
complete cure. We need to slow down Varroa and I think that is
happening.We need to work on the virus problem and that takes money. We
all need to share in the cost in the research.This is a world problem ,
not a USA problem. The UK is the leader in Bee Virus research , with
Canada. I know that other places in the world are working on parts of the
problem.On internet you will find good info on varroa.
 
 Best Regards
 Roy