> ...So he swapped queens.  After a break of a few weeks to get a new set of young bees in each hive, the proportions of damaged mites reversed, following the queens.  Thus mite-damaging behavior is inherited and therefore selectable rather than learned behavior.

Interesting.  Was there increased mite drop associated with the mite damage?  Were any other measures made?  I realise this is a very limited and anecdotal test, but it is something we can all repeat quite easily on our own hives.

I recall there was an attempt to select for this somewhere in southeast Europe a decade or more back, but this is the first I have heard recently.
             ***********************************************
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

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm