BjornBee,
2) Your assertion that there aren't mite resistant bees is wrong and flies in the face of many respected studies. I know of several bee keepers that haven't treated for years here in Oregon and Washington. The term is Mite Sensitive Hygene.
3) Yes putting you bees on smaller comb shortens brood cycle which significantly cuts the reproduction of mites.
Well then, lets see these mite resistant bees and the studies. Lets see bees, regardless of where you put them, regardless of what they are placed on, and regardless of the type beekeeping you choose....that these bees are mite resistant. If mite resistant, it would not matter as to what type comb, or hive, etc.
Your second point just confirms my first point. If NOT for putting bees on unnatural small cell comb, your bees would not even be as mite resistant as one could suggest. Perhaps putting them on smallcell helps, but that is a mechanical manipulation of the bees, which adds to the lowering of mites. Just as drone comb removal or dusting with sugar. Why does placing bees on unnatural small cell comb allow one to suggest that bees are mite resistant?
Now if you want to discuss keeping bees in manners that allow bee to survive at a higher rate, that is another story. But if the bees unto themselves are truly mite resistant, then they should be able to survive by themselves without mechanical manipulation, or anything beyond "natural". And forcing bees on smallcell is not natural.
As for your studies, I am not aware of one study that has taken bees from ANY breeder, who claims mite resistance, and followed the colonies left alone for a period of time to see if they can handle mites by themselves.
Yes, bees are more hygienic than they were ten years ago. But I am not in agreement we have bees able to deal with mites by themselves, but for the fact of beekeeper intervention.
BTW....Mite Sensitive Hygene....where does that translate into mite resistant bees?
I've seen many suggestive advertising and marketing playing with the words like hygienic, mite resistant, and other descriptive fluff. I have yet to see one breeder state "Buy my bees and you will never have to worry about mites again!".
Show me the studies showing who has mite resistant bees, and show me breeders making such claims.
The closest I have seen is an outfit down in Texas that speaks of their own success. But like many breeders, nuc producers and queen producers, the nature of what they do within their own programs allows them to go chemical free. You pull enough queens and make enough splits, and anyone can suppress mites through the year.
Hey wait a minute! That is what I do. I don't treat. I pull almost all my queens, and make splits all summer. Highest mite count in the past three years by state inspectors was 2! But do I market "Mite resistant" bees...No! Why...because many things go into having bees deal with mites. Bees don't do it themselves. At least not yet.
And before someone jumps in with "I know a beekeeper who has not treated for 6 years and the colony is still alive"...and other such comments, I'll agree I have a few of those hives also. Most beekeepers have that wonder hive that for some reason seems to handle things. And who knows what goes into making that hive survive when other died. Raise me a thousand queens off one of those claimed mite resistant hives, put a guarantee behind it, and call me this weekend. You give back the money for everyone that dies of mites. I'll be happy to place an order.
In the meantime, find those studies, and let me know who claims to have mite resistant bees and will be willing to back it up..... ;)