randy oliver <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Am I missing something here? The SC colonies always had more mite drop, to me indicating that there were more mites!-- Hello Randy! Reviewing the 6 known mechanisms for varroa resistance; Length of phoretic period, Low mite fertility, Brood attractiveness, Length of post-capping, Grooming behavior and Hygienic behavior. Small cell would probably contribute directly to two of the six mechanisms by reducing brood attractiveness, and (with mites having to search longer for a suitable cell) would possibly cause the phoretic period to lengthen. This lengthening of the phoretic period, (arguably the highest risk period for varroa) will perhaps cause a symptom of higher mite drop because of the increase chance for a mite being groomed, falling or meeting some other demise. Perhaps in this case, ‘more mite drop‘ does not necessarily indicate more mites. From my experience working with feral bees, I am seeing that mite pressure in a colony is as much a reflection of the resistance at the colony level as it is telling of the mite resistance of the local population of honeybees. Relying on mite counts alone IMHO is a failure to properly assess a colony, which is of course (as we all know) should be based on ’over all performance’. Mite counts are a ’symptom’ of other causes, IMO, mite drops are so ambiguous in their interpretation, I personally don’t understand how they can have any practicality as a selective tool, especially when over all performance will tell all that is needed. In a local population of honeybees that are carrying high mite loads, culling colonies based on mite drop could perhaps be a selection against two of the known mechanisms for mite resistance; grooming behavior and brood attractiveness. And possibly, (on a natural comb system) a selection against feral bees which are sometimes of smaller cell sizes. Relating this to the study, perhaps mite pressure in the research colonies (also being a reflection of the mite pressure found in the local population of bees) was probably near a comparative level, and the small cell group may be having the symptom of higher mite drop due to a lengthening of the phoretic period. Best Wishes, Joe Waggle Derry, PA “Bees Gone Wild Apiaries” FeralBeeProject.com http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************