Paul C asked for an on-line reference for the Varroa mite life cycle.
Go to the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture site http://apicultureNE.cas.psu.edu/
follow the "Honey Bee Parasites, Pests, Predators and Diseases" path
and choose "Diagram of Varroa Mite Life Cycle" from the slides set.
The Mid-Atlantic site has a plethora of information.
Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!