Pete wrote:
> Our authors don't speculate on how the mites are transferred, but if
> it is by robbing, then you would expect them all to have about the
> same amount, whether the distance is a meter or a mile. That's seems
> to be what they found.

Excellent point, Pete, especially since the most distant colony (nearly a 
mile away) picked up dang near as many mites as the 1-m colony.
This point is also supported by Goodwin's data from New Zealand--that 
robbing is of far more consequence than drift.
Also supported by my own observations--that I see heavily mite-infested 
colonies sitting side by side with very low infestation colonies for the 
season.
You not only need to monitor *your* mites, but to also monitor your 
neighbor's mites (as many commercial beeks already do surreptitiously).
Randy Oliver

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