In message <[log in to unmask]>, Glyn Davies
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Using drone comb to trap and reduce mites can work but obviously has to be
>very efficienly managed or else too many drones and thousands of mites are
>released into the hive!
True, but it's only the timing that's crucial as I said in another post.
Otherwise it's not difficult.
>  But I don't like the idea because I think it will
>be putting environmental pressure onto the mites for the selection of those
>mites that 'prefer' worker brood.  However I don't understand the biological
>interactions well enough to work out if that would be even more harmful to
>beekeeping.  Can anyone offer a suggestion?
Yes I think this selection is possible but there are some 'howevers'.
To me the experience in Europe (that includes us BTW ;-)) shows that it
is important that more than one control is used, partly because of this
problem of selecting resistant or tolerant strains and partly because of
the way we have to fit management to the bee's natural cycle. So, if we
were to select for worker prefering mites with this one another control
(trap comb, pyrethroid or whatever) would get them too. I would argue
against 'the magic bullet' in this regard !
The second however has to do with what makes Varroa a 'pest' and this is
it's ability to increase exponentially its population. Were it merely to
*maintain* its numbers we would'nt be so worried. Now the key to this
increase seems to be its use of drone brood. On average in worker if I
remember rightly only one viable adult is produced, in drone its
slightly more than two. So, if we selected mites that 'prefer' worker
brood far from being harmfull it might (ha ha) do us a favour.
--
Dave Black
Blacks Bee Gardens,
Guildford, GU1 4RN.  UK.