In a message dated 03/10/04 14:11:43 GMT Daylight Time,  [log in to unmask]
writes:

<<Josh wrote: "There is no other explanation other than that the  bees already
contained the information."  Roger White commented: "...  there could be
another explaination, a lot of bee behaviour appears to be  learnt by the
bees and this could also be the case in combating Varroa - in  fact a lot of
evidence seems to point in this direction."

As there  seem to be two alternative approaches under discussion - breeding
Varroa  resistant bees, versus modifying the brood nest to create small cells
that  in some way decrease Varroa
reproduction  - and both appear really to  be getting somewhere - could we
lurkers press for more information/comment  on what mechanisms are believed
to be triggered in each  approach.>>

    The first thing I noticed when I started downsizing  bees was the
appearance of bald brood, which I'd never seen before; some pupae  were chewed out
altogether. Not everyone sees this, but I'm not the only one by  any means. So
that's something to look at. Someone in the UK - I forget who -  was breeding
for mite damaging behaviour, apparently with some success; I don't  know where
he is with that now. I have a strain which has been bred for a degree  of
resistance (not by me), and I've noticed a high proportion of light coloured
mites falling out, which I'm told are unlikely to be able to breed. So there are
some possibilities. Right now,  the hive with the lowest mitefall is also  the
one with three laying queens, but somehow I doubt whether that's  relevant.

    Regards,

    Robert Brenchley

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