> This thread started on the question of how to relate mite fall to overall
> varroa population.  That is an essential part of any control system -

Howso?  What possible advantage is provided by from knowing
how many mites are in any specific colony?

> and we do not seem to be too sure whether the factor in summer is
> 30x daily mite fall or 100.

Nor do we care. (By "we" I mean myself and a few other folks who
own both a white lab coat and beehives, and therefore have no excuse
for not keeping up with science and "implementing best practices".)

> Still a very confusing picture to explain to the new beekeeper.

Naw, its easy:

a) You cannot control that which you do not measure.

b) You can't count all the mites, and you can't count
   all the bees.

c) Both populations are moving targets.

d) There is a very high correlation between mite drop
   and total mite population.  As long as your measurement
   method is consistent and your rules for counting consistent,
   you have a valid basis for a trend line representing mite
   population growth.

e) There is no point (e). Nothing else matters.


     jim (USA politics for UK residents:
          Republicans are just like your Conservative Party.
          Democrats are also like your Conservative Party.)

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