>>When colonies are widely separated as in the Arnot forest
the mites have nowhere else to go so it is in their interest not to
exterminate the host.
I saw Tom Seeley's map with the nest locations. They are close
enough to be robbed out [and the mites transfered to the new host
locations]. The same would hold for any managed colonies near the
forest.
I doubt the mite difference between the forest nest and managed nest
is significant. Virus presence or lack thereof might be a bigger
factor. I have not heard that anyone has looked at virus levels in
the forest colonies.
I remove/collect feral colonies in suburbia and many of them
undoubtedly originate from managed nests yet do just fine on their
own. I am inclined to think the mite or virus types are different.
Walemar
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