In message <[log in to unmask]>, James Fischer <[log in to unmask]> writes >These two experiments lead Galton to coin the phrase "regression to the mean". Not being a biologist (ex-physicist and educationalist) I appreciate that selection for one character means all others regress to the mean. Also, open mating will regress many to the mean. My optimism is based on getting a large number of beekeepers working together, covering the whole of the peninsula. I have no idea yet what % colonies we will recruit, but I am hopeful that drone flooding will go some way to getting us going. We have some areas a bit more isolated and working intensively there might help. We also have a number of groups working around the UK, some with II and some without. We'll be able to compare notes. >What does one do to avoid this phenomenon, except requeen with the progeny >of inseminated queens from a closed-population controlled breeding program? John Dews has bees that damage nearly 60% of the mites falling on the floor, but last season he did II even with a very isolated open mating site. Look up Spurn Head, on the north side of the Humber estuary in Yorkshire, UK and you'll see what I mean. The Lizard, in Cornwall, is not so good as there are lots of beekeepers. However, this level of co- operation has been reported in Eastern Europe, mainly through the gift of queens to non-participating beekeepers. John has however, reported increasing mite damage in other hives where open mating was the norm. -- James Kilty :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::