Chris, I wish it were that simple.  Flip it around--a large part of why the reproduction rate drops is because a greater proportion of the mites are phoretic (the longer the phoretic period, the lower the rate of reproduction), but this is because the ratio of adult bees to brood has increased.  



?????????????????????????

Big question in my head,  given our other discussion of from Donze the mites reproduction rate of mated females increases when more than one foundress is in the cell,  up to 7 was the number given.

With that thought,  then even with the brood ratio change,  why do more mites become phoretic longer?  It seems to me the opposite would occour?

Charles

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