> .... all of the intense drone cell removal that I do ..... the mites
will evolve into mites that do not enter drone brood or worker brood
where they would be safe.  I did not take that too seriously.

I think that’s a classic example of someone who’s opinion is being
given as a fact. Other’s hear about it or read it on these internet
discussions and the opinion gets spread around more as fact. Like you,
Janet, I don’t think many take it too seriously.

  > Don't varroa mites have to feed on adult fluids for a while before
entering the cell and birthing again?  Does anyone know how many hours
or days that would be?

Well, here’s what’s written in ‘Mites of the Honey Bee’:

“Mites artificially transferred from one cell to another, without
passing any time on the adult bee, are still able to reproduce although
at a reduced rate when compared with mites that have spent some time on
an adult bee. However, under natural conditions mites need only a short
time on the adult bee, less than one day, for their subsequent
reproductive ability to be unimpaired. The minimum necessary phoretic
period is probably linked to maturation of the sperm within the
female.”

Regards,
Dick Allen

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