In regard to previous discussion in this thread (see
http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0410A&L=bee-l&D=0&P=1552)

and
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/2004/diary100104.htm
and
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/2004/diary110104.htm

> Possible interpretation:
> Knowing that these hives were sampled and numbered from one end of the
> outfit to the other end, and that the hives are mostly in four-packs,
> we see that the high counts are grouped in one area.
>   a.. Did one hive (17) rob a feral colony and bring back mites that
> then drifted with bees to nearby hives?
>   b.. Did one or two hives miss the last treatment a year and a half
> ago?
>   c.. Are the higher scoring hives facing east or west?  I'll have to
> check.

Well, we had to put some Apistan into the high mite load hives today, since
the follow-up lab work on samples taken after treatment with liquid oxalic
in syrup showed considerably _higher_ mite loads than a month or so ago when
they were treated (as part of an experiment).

One thing we have now noticed is that the hives with high mite loads are all
in polystyrene hives.  On is in wood.  The low infestation hives are all
wood.

Just guessing -- unless this is a fluke -- it looks as if the longer brood
rearing that takes place in styro hives may favour varroa!

Curiouser and curiouser.

allen
A Beekeeper's Diary: http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/

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