The host shift of varroa mites from Asian bees to European bees has 
produced an unusual and uncommon situation regarding natural selection 
and breeding.  A lot of the assumptions generated for the more common 
soft selective pressures where slight benefits of multiple mating, out 
crossing, diverse genomes, etc. are selectable do not happen to hold in 
this unusual situation.  A genetically diverse, multipaternal colony 
that does not deal well with varroa, and is not treated, is out of the 
gene pool.  With a widespread preponderance of treated, but varroa 
susceptible colonies, it is impossible to make progress towards more 
adapted genomes.  The irony of the save the bee movement is that it is 
spreading bad genes (with regard to varroa resistance) pretty broadly 
and preventing rare resistant genotypes from emerging through natural 
selection or breeding. 

 

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