>My strategy is to keep my bees healthy, but to apply strong
selective pressure each spring as I select my breeding stock.<

Thanks Randy!
Although I have only a dozen hives this is what I'm trying to do also. Not to compare as I am only into it for the fun of it.

 The bees I started with weren't local and did not have any special traits to deal with the mites. I allow the colonies to produce all the drones they desire throughout the year and do not treat. Through four years I have seen a marked improvement in how the bees handle the varroa but I'm still not satisfied and would hope introducing some VSH queens could take my bees to another level. We really don't have queens with this trait available in my local area so would have to bring in a few from outside. So have mixed feelings as to introducing some or not.

Something that I have just started to monitor is brood development times as a possible indicator of colony health and wonder what thoughts you may have on this as a marker?

Thanks!

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