Aaron points out:
> It is possibly (probable?) that restocking with bees that have been
> artificially kept alive with chemical treatments is contrary to a goal of
> breeding varroa tolerant bees.
>
Man has attempted to "Improve" many species by breeding desired
characteristics into them.  The result has many times yielded disastrous
results.  Collie dogs have congenital retinal detachment leaving young dogs
blind, many large breeds suffer from dysplastic hips, Miniature Schnauzers
have congenital cataracts and temperment has suffered in many breeds.  Why
would bees be any different.  We select for temperment, productivity and a
decreased swarming tendencies.  By selecting for what we want in bees, what
have we given up?  Swarming, by increasing feral populations, also increased
gene diversity, there by increasing potential for development of natural
selection against varroa as well as other diseases-AFB for example.  By
artificially selecting for specific genetic characteristics, at the expense
of others, we weaken the species as a whole.

Coleene


----- Original Message -----
From: Aaron Morris <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 7:45 AM
Subject: The dynamics of haoneybee and varroa populations (was Thai Bees)


> > bees in Thailand ... pluck the mites from the affected bee, and kill it
> with
> > their mandibles.
>
> This grooming behavior is not unique to Thai bees.  It is another
> characteristic present in all populations of bees, more dominant in some
> populations, less in others.  I heard Steve Taber in  1997 talk about a
> breeder in Germany who noticed this tendency in some of his bees by
> observing dead mites with a jewelers glass.  Some of the mites were dented
> or dismembered.  The breeder was attempting to strengthen this attribute
> through selective breeding.  I don't know the breeder, nor have I heard
> updates on his project.  But the propensity for survival IS evident in
SOME
> bees.  Selective breeding CAN bring such characteristics to the forefront,
> and we are currently guessing (probably correctly) that natural
populations
> are also exhibiting characteristics that allow the to better coexist with
> varroa.
>
> It is possibly (probable?) that restocking with bees that have been
> artificially kept alive with chemical treatments is contrary to a goal of
> breeding varroa tolerant bees.
>
> Aaron Morris - thinking dynamically!
>