Stan Sandler wrote:
> I have difficulty following the argument about size.
Hello Stan,
Most people do and as long as the interest is there i will try to
explain and will quote facts from the only books i can find on the
subject. We all learn from questions. I posted "Man created varroa
problem"now Beesize so will add another direction.

  If the cell size is
> bigger then I can see where it might make for more space for varroa.  But if
> both the cell size AND the bee size are bigger then where is the extra
> space?  The larva will still fill the cell.

I think by now most bee-L readers have realized (maybe for the first
time)that man did indeed enlarge the cell size of A.melifera over the
last 100 years. Longer tounge? Bigger is better?

If A melifera and A. cerana are almost identical then Why  can varroa
not reproduce in A. cerana worker cells?

The obvious difference is size 4.7mm A.cerana 5.4mm A.melifera.

Quote: from page 22 of "The Varroa Handbook"
In the Indian bee,Apis Cerana ,varroa mites are unable to reproduce in
worker brood.
 Researchers have a few theorys on the above. All unproven and only
theorys. I say to those researchers with their theorys which they can't
prove that cell size does to me seem the most obvious answer.

Dr. Erickson(Arizona Bee Lab)wrote in 1997:
We have seen a 40% survival rate in varroa mite-infected hives equipped
with honeycombs that have the smaller,more natural -sized cells that
bees would create on their own. Hives with the larger commercial starter
cells DIED out. Through EXPERIMENTS,we've learned that honey bees
survive a varroa mite infestation better if they have combs with a
diameter 22 percent smaller then we have used in the past.

Quote from page 657 of the Aug. 2000 American Bee Journal:
Spivak and Boecking(2000)wrote "despite some claims to the
contrary,there are no BEEKEEPERS OR RESEARCHERS who have successfully
bred a line of bees that is varroa resistant.

comment: All beekeepers myself included have seen colonies which seemed
to exist with varroa for whatever the reason BUT breeding a line
resistant to varroa has not yet been realized! maybe breeding is not the
answer or maybe the researchers will develope a line but the above is
the sad truth on Aug.30,2000. Also converting all the worlds bees to the
resistant line would take more time than converting the foundation to
small cell and the varroa time bomb is ticking. Is not converting all
bees in all countrys to this new line what they are suggesting or
HAVEN"T they thought the whole thing through?
Food for thought: The Russian queens are 500 U.S. and come without a
money back warrenty. In jest i say a recall would be in order! I do
BELIEVE the breeding program is worthwhile and needs extra funding. I
have attended several of marla Spivics talks. Bought her book and tape
and Don't even claim to be on the level of our bee breeders. I am truly
sorry they haven't came up with a varroa resistant bee.
The sad truth remains: no resistant strain of bees and varroa resistant
to our chemicals.
Could small cell size be the answer?
Bob Harrison
>