To Ed Sterling:
 
Assume your bees have varroa and test for them now, or you may well lose your
colonies over winter. This is the time of year when the mites are at their
highest populations so if you have them, you should find them quickly.
 
Varroa can live several hours off a host bee, depending on temperature and
humidity. If your colonies are 1/2hour apart and you move from one to another,
then you may very well be carrying mites with you.
 
Hope this helps, and good luck
 
Diana Sammataro