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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
Re: Colony density
From:
Peter Loring Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 24 Jul 2016 09:33:11 -0400
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> Why would  high mite loads cause drifters to head towards those hives???

They go there to steal honey. I think bees are very sensitive to unguarded stores. Colonies with high mite loads are less capable of a range of tasks, including defending the hive. 

There is the obvious overt robbing but also, progressive robbing where scouts and foragers just go into poorly guarded colonies and help themselves, picking up varroa at the same time.

See: Mangum, W (2012) Robbing: Part 2: Progressive robbing. ABJ 152(8): 761-764.

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