Peter Borst writes:
> Recent studies of varroa *seem* to point to the inability of varroa mites
to make any assessment at all, that they are simply
> piggybacking to whatever locations the workers carry them.

This is an interesting assertion, and I'm not challanging it, I'm merely
stating it is an interesting assertion.  What we first "knew" about Varroa
j. (later we "learned" it was Varroa d.) was that it actively sought out and
could differentiate drone brood.  Later on we speculated that perhaps it
wasn't smell but rather the raised drone cells that was the cue attracting
Varroa species to drone brood.  Now it's been passed on that some have
asserted it might be as simple as a matter of chance based on length of time
a cell is uncapped; the longer the barn door is open the more likely it is
that the horse will leave (or in this case enter).  Interesting assertion
and certainly a more simple explanation (Occam's Razor!).

Based on the assertions and observations posted in the past few days I must
back off my assertion that Varroa will not be found in queen cells.  I've
never seen it myself, but then again I've never seen France.

Aaron Morris - thinking thankful thoughts!