>Do colonies with high mite counts die early in the winter because of
viruses or because the mites feed on fat bodies

Great question Tracy!
I agree with Dick.  Early after varroa arrived, you could allow the mite
infestation rate build to a mite on every worker (on average) shortly
before the formation of the winter cluster, hit the colony with a miticide,
and the colony could survive the winter.
That said, the mites in the winter cluster to continue to feed to some
extent, but don't need to consume as much fat body, since they are not
producing eggs.
But as Jose said, it's hard to tease out the two effects of mite feeding
separately.

Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
530 277 4450
ScientificBeekeeping.com


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