In a message dated 8/4/99 6:16:13 AM, [log in to unmask] writes: <<Has anyone else seen a mite population drop? Could this be heat related? It has been very hot down here. Mites can dry out and die if conditions are right, but I do not think that this level would be the case.>> Where exactly are you located? Most of the United States have been suffering under a heat wave. Are there any studies or research to indicate a correlation between hot seasons and diminishing varroa population -- independent of peaks or dips in the bee population. What research I've read seems to show that varroa mite population crashes are directly related to the prevalence -- or lack thereof -- bee colonies, both feral and managed. John