Aaron Morris writes
>What was initially thought to be a preference for drones  is now being
chalked up to other causes, such as the fact that drone cells are uncapped
for a longer period than worker cells, hence it is more likely that varroa
will find their way into the uncapped cells.

James said:
And they are fed longer, so more young bees pass by. And they go in earlier
which gives them ore time. I was told when we first had them, that drone
food has a different Ph than worker food at the time that varroa enter the
cells and that changed the smell to one they had learned to recognise. Is
this true?

Don't know! what I do know is why varroa seems to prefer drone brood is
still a mystery. Could be any of the above *or* some yet undiscovered
reason.

Ask any beekeeper. If you want to find varroa in your colony look in the
drone brood first. At least a dozen other possible hypothesis for why varroa
seem to prefer drone brood exist besides those put forth by Aaron & James.

Bob

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