Paul Hosticka wrote:

>Some say that if we had never treated a single colony that the bees would
have developed resistance by now. I believe that that is a guess
unsupported by evidence.<

In this context you and others may be interested in comments made by Tom
Seeley at the UK National Honey Show last October.  In a Q&A session Tom
and panel members were responding to the question 'How are wild bees doing
against varroa?"

His answer is at 43.22 in the video coverage, which can be seen at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF68RiiiD34

Dr Seely notes similar survivorship rates in feral populations in his study
area (upper NY state I believe) as was seen in the 1970s, and has some
interesting details on the genetics of these bees.


Rob Hughes
Upper Kingsclear NB

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