Evidently, the infested hives had more drifted bees than the uninfested ones. They state: "Varroa-infested colonies show an enhanced attraction of drifting workers."
Why does that seem a little odd to me? Why would high mite loads cause drifters to head towards those hives??? What in a "sick hive" would be more attractive than the bees original hive?
My first thought is that the mite hive was more accepting of drifters, but we know that a drifter with a load of nectar or pollen is usually accepted anyway.
Seems a bit peculiar to my thinking?? Any suggestions on why that would be?
Charles
***********************************************
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