>
>
> >It may be that contact with hive surfaces carries the potential to raise
> virus titers in addition to varroa.
>

DWV virions are passed to other bees via jelly, as are antiviral dsRNAs.
You can assume that virtually every bee in a hive with any varroa will be
exposed to DWV, even in the absence of being parasitized by a mite.  But
DWV is apparently a relatively benign virus, and in the absence of mite
feeding, the bee is able to keep it to a benign level in its body.

Since I have only so many seconds in a day, I'd spend those seconds on
varroa management, rather than comb sterilization.


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

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