Michael Palmer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I wonder if there are two sets of bees doing the work...uncappers and
>chewers. To be a sufficiently hygienic colony to complete the job, there
>must be both sets of bees in ample numbers.


Hello Mike,

Intresting concept!  This could be as bees may be specialist in detecting 
infected brood and others maybe the ’undertaker’ bees specialize in 
removing the brood.

Something also interesting,  in talking with some other small cell 
beekeepers, they have stated that the uncapping trait becomes more 
pronounced in their bees while regressing and after.  Some describe seeing 
chewing down of the brood, and others describe seeing the pupa being 
removed intact and being discarded outside the colony.  I wonder if 
removal of pupa as opposed to chewing down pupa are traits that could be 
selected for individually.  Hypothesizing now, chewing down of pupa might 
be more labor intensive but may increase the propensity for the mite to be 
destroyed by chewing in the process.  While pulling out of the pupa 
intact, might be less labor intensive which would allow for more infected 
brood to be discarded, but may also permit some of the mature varroa to 
escape destruction.  

Joe Waggle 
Ecologicalbeekeeping.com 
‘Bees Gone Wild Apiaries' 
Feral Bee Project:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FeralBeeProject/ 

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