>
> > Following this, it would appear that having almost NO drone brood would
> have a profound advantage in curtailing varroa mite reproduction]


It sure would if you were keeping Apis cerana.  However, there is less
effect with Apis mellifera.  Early modeling, and comparison of models to
actual varroa increase, led Martin to the conclusion that varroa can
increase in A mellifera hives at a substantial rate even in the absence of
drone brood (don't have ref immediately at hand).

Randy Oliver

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