I have been breeding my own mite resistant bees for the past 3 summers-- I have not treated any of my hives for varroa mites going on 3 years this fall. I breed from the ones that i call varroa killers--a worker will do a shake when a mite is on her back to try to dislodge the mite. Then a few of the other workers will come to her rescue and attack the mite on her back.(I have seen this several times)And of course i can only breed from the "survivor "colonies that live through a New Hampshire winte. As i have done for the past 3 years i will not treat my hives for varroa and breed from the survivors next spring. At times it is hard to find varroa mites in some of my hives but i know they are present as i find young bees with deformed wings--and see mites on a few bees. I must be headed in the right direction raising these (N.H. hybrid italians) or they would have not survived this long after 3 years of no varroa treatment. Kevin P. Sargent Maple Hill Sugarhouse RR 1 Box 392B-County Farm Rd. Claremont, N.H. 03743 603-542-5653 U.S.A.