>> I had told her often that they are called "Kenyan"
and not "Maine" TBH for a reason so I did not give them much of a chance..

My understanding is that the T.B. hive
was designed so that it could be made
cheaply, for the poor in third world 
countries. Not because the design 
was suitable for any particular climate.
 
>>They survived the winter and are in excellent shape. All her other colonies
died at her new home. My dilemma is she is a "natural" beekeeper who does not treat but says that bees are naturally resistant to Varroa when they build their own comb.

Me personally, I do not buy the 'natural 
comb resistance thing.'  My personal belief 
is that the rate of survival is based on
the rate of stresses. Natural comb in a TBH, 
allowing for smooth transition across combs 
may be one stress reducer in itself. 

I still need to check with other beekeepers in my area,
but the neighbor nearest to me is reporting 4 out of 
4 survival, without any treatments or varroa checking,
and while poorly tending his colonies.  I do not know 
why colonies in my area are not succumbing to varroa,
they just do not have a problem with it, and I find it 
fascinating that varroa is such a problem else ware.
Its been now nearly 30 years with varroa and no 
sustainable resistance?  

PS.  I am building TBH's this Spring.  not because of
the natural comb resistance thingy, but because 
those wanting bees from me are demanding 
TBH hives, thats where the money is nowadays.

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
'Historical Honeybee Articles' on FB

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