> Are there any studies or research to indicate a
>  correlation between hot seasons and diminishing varroa population

On a remotely related note, I have recently visited beekeepers in the New
Independant States of the former Soviet Union. Some of them use a heat
chamber that contains a rotating  caged drum screen.  A whole hive of bees is
dumped in and rolled around inside the drum to shed the mites.

This method seems complex, labor intensive and stressful to the bees. But I
wonder if it is effective in eliminating the mites. Does anyone have any
information on this system? I have never seen any thing written about it here
in the USA.

Cesar Flores
Colorado