>>>>>I don't see how any of us can intelligently discuss "varroa genetics". Supposedly varroa mites basically clone themselves, so apparently there is very little variation.<<<<< If mites just cloned themselves, there would be no variation and they could not adapt. Since it's obviously true that mites DO adapt, especially to our pesticides then they are not just clones of each other. Variance can take place in the formation of an egg, and does. Pieces of DNA get dropped and others picked up. Recombination of existing DNA yields new phenotypes. I don't pretend to be up on the details but it is obvious that they are not "basically clones." Stop saying that. People actually read this list for information. Dick Marron ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************