Sammy Ramsey presented fascinating electron micrographs of feeding varroa
at the latest American Bee Research Conference in Reno.  Varroa is
exquisitely adapted for penetrating the soft integument between the ventral
abdominal sternites, where it then secretes digestive fluids for "extra
oral" digestion of the poor bee's fat bodies.

This internal destruction of the fat bodies is likely linked to the
resultant poor health and suppressed immune response of those unfortunate
bees.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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