Hi Aaron:
 
> Do the mite inflicted wounds heal or are the
>bees left with festering sores?
 
I am no expert but I offer the following observation:  There is a difference
between some level of damage control and actual healing (regeneration).  In
the lobsters, which are also arthropods, but class crustacea instead of
insecta, a damaged appendage does undergo enough damage control that all the
fluids and tissues do not escape from the broken chitin.  But actual
regeneration only takes place when moulting occurs.  Then a new appendage
begins to grow with cell differentiation.  Since adult bees do not moult I
doubt if they can "heal".
 
Since the queen is potentially a long living individual, the question has
some economic significance.
 
Regards, Stan