I am having a bit of trouble getting my mind around the designation of
Varroa being a vector of virus. So far, what has been presented is that
virus have been found in mites. That is a given if they have fed on a bee
that has virus.

Are mites, like most disease vectors, immune from the virus?

Are mites found with KBV (and the like) in colonies that have never had KBV
or do the mites mirror the state of the bees and have the same virus
distribution?

Also, usually a disease vector is identified with a specific disease such as
malaria and mosquitos and deer ticks and lyme disease. So is Varroa the
vector for IAPV, KBV whatever? (It seems not since bees can succumb to virus
with low or no Varroa or can succumb with Tracheal mites.)

We know that virus are found in colonies but seem to do fine until the
introduction of Varroa, so how does Varroa pick up the designation of a
Varroa vector or even an EFB vector?

I have also been told  that bees transfer virus by direct contact and
feeding which accounts for colony deaths with few Varroa so are bees also
the virus vector?

I realize I am being a bit picky on the use of the word. But stuck here with
the end of a chest cold, do I call my son a chest cold vector as he gave it
to me?

From- "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll

`When *I* use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it
means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'

`The question is,' said Alice, `whether you *can* make words mean so many
different things.'

`The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, `which is to be master -- that's
all.'
Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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