randy oliver <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Am I missing something here? The SC colonies always had more mite drop,
to me indicating that there were more mites!--
Hello Randy!
Reviewing the 6 known mechanisms for varroa resistance; Length of phoretic
period, Low mite fertility, Brood attractiveness, Length of post-capping,
Grooming behavior and Hygienic behavior. Small cell would probably
contribute directly to two of the six mechanisms by reducing brood
attractiveness, and (with mites having to search longer for a suitable
cell) would possibly cause the phoretic period to lengthen. This
lengthening of the phoretic period, (arguably the highest risk period for
varroa) will perhaps cause a symptom of higher mite drop because of the
increase chance for a mite being groomed, falling or meeting some other
demise. Perhaps in this case, ‘more mite drop‘ does not necessarily
indicate more mites.
From my experience working with feral bees, I am seeing that mite pressure
in a colony is as much a reflection of the resistance at the colony level
as it is telling of the mite resistance of the local population of
honeybees. Relying on mite counts alone IMHO is a failure to properly
assess a colony, which is of course (as we all know) should be based
on ’over all performance’. Mite counts are a ’symptom’ of other causes,
IMO, mite drops are so ambiguous in their interpretation, I personally
don’t understand how they can have any practicality as a selective tool,
especially when over all performance will tell all that is needed. In a
local population of honeybees that are carrying high mite loads, culling
colonies based on mite drop could perhaps be a selection against two of
the known mechanisms for mite resistance; grooming behavior and brood
attractiveness. And possibly, (on a natural comb system) a selection
against feral bees which are sometimes of smaller cell sizes.
Relating this to the study, perhaps mite pressure in the research colonies
(also being a reflection of the mite pressure found in the local
population of bees) was probably near a comparative level, and the small
cell group may be having the symptom of higher mite drop due to a
lengthening of the phoretic period.
Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle Derry, PA
“Bees Gone Wild Apiaries” FeralBeeProject.com
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles
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