> There has been a lot of work done in Europe on Varroa and in general > a dead hive doesn't mean the death of that strain of Varroa. As the hive > declines the remaining bees realise they are not getting ahead and abscond, > taking the Varroa with them of course. <snip> That's a particularly interesting aspect and one that makes one wonder about bee behaviour generally. It implies that most bees know where other hives are. For what distance? Do the bees abscond individually, or in mass? If the latter, has this been witnessed and recorded scientifically? All I have heard about it is anecdotal - but convincing. I know we used a purported pollen substitute (fish meal blend) one year and made the mistake of putting it in alternate hives in a row. The bees drifted to the non smelly hives! As far as moving farther afield, and in number, we know of hives absconding and of swarms moving in on other hives. Is this the same or another closely related phenomenon? > healthier hives. What we should try and do is, as our German counterparts > do, treat all hives in an area at the same time, this successfully prevents > the above problems. I believe that this is being done in a number of areas in North America too. One of the things we (The Alberta Beekeepers Association) have been contemplating is the practicality of including it in our provincial Bee Act. I think we concluded that it would be difficult to legislate, but should be something that we attempt to organise on a voluntary basis. Has anyone any experience with this? Is it mandated by law anywhere? > As to Varroa overwintering independantly of their hosts I suggest > this is an impossibility as they are incapable of surviving for long periods > on their own. It does seem very very unlikely, however might there be the (remote) possibility of alternate hosts? What is the temperature sensitivity of varroa? We are asssured that if bees die in equipment, that a fairly short time after, the equipment can be reused without danger. Does anyone have first hand experience here - how long can a varroa mite live on its own? Regards Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Internet:[log in to unmask] Honey. Bees, Art, & Futures <http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka>