Hi Guys,

There was a study conducted in Europe and published in the American Bee
Journal that studied the varroa mite life cycle using a video camera and
clear, plastic cells containing brood. At one point the varroa mite migrates
from the posterior end of the bee to a feeding site toward the middle of the
abdomen. The mite must push the pupa's legs out of the way to get there.
Maybe with smaller cells, the mite makes more 'noise' and can be detected
easier by the bees.

Bees use this same brood cleansing behavior to handle other pests as well.
Bald headed brood has been reported in association with wax moth
infestation. Barry Birkey has some excellent photographs of this process at:

http://www.bee-l.com/biobeefiles/barry/index.htm

Although the mechanism appears to be the same, there are a number of
differences that distinguish the bald headed brood due to wax moths and the
same associated with varroa infestations.

Others have reported a limited amount of bald headed brood without an
apparent cause.

This cleasing activity doesn't involve dead pupa. When they are uncapped at
the purple eye stage, the pupa are glossy white and quite alive. And they
remain alive unless the bees chew them out. Here are some photos of bald
headed brood:

http://www.bee-l.com/biobeefiles/mitechew/index.htm

Click on the thumbnails for a better view.

I'm sure that there are multiple ways bees combat pests. But changing the
cell size has allowed all different kinds of bees to tolerate the varroa mite.

Regards
Dennis
Who has enough trouble just speaking English :>)

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