>>>>> Are winter losses necessary to evaluate varroa tolerance?  I think
not.  Are there not surrogate tests that allow for tracking anti-varroa
performance without sacrificing the hive?<<<<<

If you  have winter losses it doesn't matter if you seem to have varroa
tolerant bees. One could put "Here lies a varroa tolerant bee" on a
headstone. 
It is commonly assumed that the Aug/Sept varroa, by interfering with the
production of "winter bees" kills the hive that would have otherwise made
it. IMHO wintering is all.

Dick Marron 

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned 
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html