J. Waggle wrote:

>So much talk about developing varroa resistant bees from exotic breeds.
>Are there ANY  “organized groups working together” to develop resistance
>in the strain of bee that has proven itself in the North East?
>,,, “the good old Italian bee“.

Maybe you could explain how the Pennsylvanian Italian bee is somehow less 
exotic than, say, the Californian Carniolans, or the Russian Macedonians, 
or even the Arizonian Africans? 

The days of isolating and breeding "pure" strains of any sort of bee are 
over. Not only is it virtually impossible except on certain islands, but 
following the current bee research, isolation and inbreeding may actually 
be a scourge.

What is needed now is to leave behind the purebreed mindset and look for 
an amalgamated honey bee with health and vigor as the chief criteria. It 
matters little what it is called. 

pb

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