>>>>> Are winter losses necessary to evaluate varroa tolerance? I think
not. Are there not surrogate tests that allow for tracking anti-varroa
performance without sacrificing the hive?<<<<<
If you have winter losses it doesn't matter if you seem to have varroa
tolerant bees. One could put "Here lies a varroa tolerant bee" on a
headstone.
It is commonly assumed that the Aug/Sept varroa, by interfering with the
production of "winter bees" kills the hive that would have otherwise made
it. IMHO wintering is all.
Dick Marron
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