>
> >After working for years with the Russian bee I have written I believe the
> missing link *might* be that certain bees and possibly races seem unaffected
> by the various virus vectored by the varroa.


Bob, this is very likely the case.  In both South Africa, and New Zealand,
colonies could intially tolerate (and still do in NZ) tens of thousands of
mites without obvious harm.  The missing factor appears to be viruses
adapted to using mites as vectors.

Once the viruses evolve, then it is up to the bees to gear up their siRNA
antiviral response for those specific viruses.  The Russians have had more
time to do so.

I feel that you are right on target that breeding for viral resistance must
go hand in hand with mite resistance.

Randy Oliver

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