> That said, due to the often high degree of drift between colonies, there is
> still the potential for a few highly-infested colonies to influence the
> mite levels of other colonies in the apiary, even if those colonies have
> not (yet) collapsed.


Good points Charles and Randy.

I’ve wondered how much having a higher or lower propensity for robbing influences the overall ‘resistance’ of some colonies to mites.  Likewise, perhaps a higher or lower defensiveness toward allowing drifting bees to enter the hive could be a factor.   

Casual observation of my small number (20) of untreated hives has led me to believe that this strain has a low propensity for robbing as I sometimes find a dwindled hive that frankly should have been robbed out but wasn’t.  

I also notice quick and effective ‘turn aways’ by the guard bees when drifting bees happen to find themselves trying to enter the wrong hive, even when the drifting bee is loaded with pollen and nectar.

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html