?> There is so much hive-to-hive, and yard-to-yard variability in mite 
levels.  We were also surprised by mite counts in some of our yards...

I saw this in some commercial outfits we inspected.  Three yards with mites 
below 1% average then one yard at ~10%, with individual hives hitting the 
thirties or forties.  (And these are just the ones we randomly sampled).

Note, I say "average".  The scatter is most interesting.

A 1% average can include yards with 0,0,0,0,0,6 or 1,1,1,1,1,1 in 300 bees.

A 3% average can include yards with 3,3,3,3,3,3, or 0,0,0,0,0,18.

In the latter case, what are we to think about the one at 18?  We know what 
to think about the yard at 10%.  Easy decision -- unless you are restricted 
to "soft" treatments, in which case, you are screwed.  (That is the 
scientific term). 

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