[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> >DW>Why is it that the direct ancestors of insects found in resin 42 milion
> >  >years old, will today die out in large numbers from the attack of a Varroa
> >  >mite of equal pedigree. Surely in all that time similar threats have been
> >  >dealt with successfully?
>
> Varroa was not found on Apis Mellifera 42,000,000 years ago or even 100
> years ago.
>
> Varroa is a natural pathogen of Apis Cerana (AKA the Asian Honey Bee).  This
> bee is a completely different species.  The adults are smaller than a.
> mellifera and the colonies are also smaller (never big enough to fill more
> than 2 small boxes).  The honey yield from this species is also small.
>
> Among other things this species HAS evolved to tolerate Varroa.  The bees
> simply brush them off with a highly developed grooming technique.  For this
> species Varroa is just a minor nuisance.
>
> Problems for modern beekeepers began about 40 years ago.  At that time,
> beekeepers in some parts of Asia tried to use a. mellifera in instead of a.
> cerana.  They hoped to get a better yield of honey from a. mellifera.  It
> appears that varroa jumped species at this point from a. cerana to a.
> mellifera.  As a. mellifera had never been exposed to varroa before, they
> have no effective defense and suffer badly for it.
>
> It is likely that no one was aware of the problem at the time and so it was
> allowed to spread unchecked through out Asia and Europe.  In addition, some
> cretins kindly shipped it over the water to the UK and mainland America
> (North & South?).  I believe it has not yet arrived in Africa.
>
> I know it has not reached Australia, New Zealand or Hawaii.  Each of these 3
> places are anxious to keep it out which is why they get nervous when other
> people try too import bees.
> Regards
>
> Chris Allen
Dear Mr. Allen:
You are right about Varroa jacobsoni's spread and ability to parasitize
honeybees. I would like to add to your statement that africanized
honeybees have developed tolerance for Varroa and also some strains of
British honeybees. Also, you may not be aware that I have announced
through this medium that I have developed a method to combat both mites,
Varroa and tracheal mites. The results of my work will soon be revealed
and available to each and every beekeeper in the world! Be patient,
friend, and have faith. Varroa and tracheal mites will eventually be
history.
MERRY X-Mas and Happy New Year!
Dr. P. Rodriguez