> the trait is continually selected for by those participating in the program.  

Maybe so, but it is not a dominant trait and it slips away when outcrossing occurs. VSH bees are heavily selected for one trait, which may help them to counteract mite predation but could at the same time produce bees which lack other important qualities. In order to produce a survivable bee, one has to aggregate traits that ensure survival to all hazards, not just mites.

> suggesting that there is a fitness cost to maintaining such defensiveness

This is a very long stretch. Defensiveness increases fitness. Here, I am talking about the strain of African bee that was introduced into the Americas. It is extremely fit, and very aggressive. This bee dominates in areas where it is crossed with European bees. VHS traits do not become dominant; they get watered down and disappear. 

I have researched bee breeding extensively and decade after decade, we heard the promises of the coming bee. The potential of new techniques such as Instrumental Insemination, genome mapping, etc. But none of these bore fruit. Hence, I am skeptical of anyone who promises results based on projections. Projections, no matter how attractive are not proof.

PLB

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