> > >While the bees are slowly evolving, varroa is evolving faster and even > faster are the viruses. Pete, that appears to be an off-the-cuff claim. Do you have evidence to offer in support? It's obvious that viruses and mites, due to their far more rapid reproductive cycles have the *ability* to evolve at a greater rate than do bees. Despite that fact, the evidence from South Africa suggests that bees got the upper hand. DWV has not yet been detected in South African bees, despite the fact that if it were not already established in insect populations in that region prior to the arrival of varroa, that the first mites would likely have introduced it. I know that you've followed Mike Allsopp's research--he documented the very rapid evolution of two races of Apis mellifera in response to the introduction of varroa (and likely its associated viruses) into South Africa. -- Randy Oliver Grass Valley, CA www.ScientificBeekeeping.com *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html