[Now mapping genome and to identify genes which are present in varroa tolerant bees are the keys to go on. ]
I was trying to keep this on a beginner's level so that it applies to everyone.
I did not want to make this a university scientific research project that no one could contribute.
Then this thread become worthless, thanks you're well on the way of driving it that way.
[Oxalic acid is extremely effective for the control of Varroa in brood free bee colonies.]
I try not to run broodless, as it defeats the purpose of raising bees.
And besides, if my bees are broodless, there isn't anywhere for the varroa to lay eggs.
And that break in the brood cycle is an effective enough varroa control.
Chemicals aren't necessary.
[Using oxalic acid to treat varroa mites could help struggling beekeepers keep their hives healthy and stay economically profitable.]
Yeah, and I've heard the horror stories of those that have mis-mixed a batch and killed most if not all of there hives (8 and 10 at a time) that sounds like a great solution. Might as well run gasoline over them and take a match to the aftermath. I still don't get it, are you promoting a genetic solution are or chemical, 'cause you still seem to be twisting them up, even despite a request not to.
[...7 genes at one time makes big variations.]
Well no kidding, but we're not doing DNA testing. or gene mapping.
I'm trying to give average people a practical way to evaluate their bees.
You seem to like the idea of making this harder than it is, like you need to demonstrate you have some superior knowledge. We're all beekeepers, there's nothing to prove. Overwhelming people with documentation without explaination isn't help, its intimidation, and that's no help in a forum like this. That is why I explained what the documents meant.
[The antivarroa bottom board must never be used with its bottom hole opened as this leads to a
lowering of cluster temperature resulting in ideal conditions for varroa development.]
I have never heard that lower cluster temps make better varroa conditions, that really doesn't add up.
When temps lower, bees diminish brood laying, varroa lay in brood area, with less brood, conditions become less favorable. Mechanically what you say does not make sense.
Like the movie JFK, pay the right scientists enough money and they can prove that an elephant can hang off a cliff by its tail clinging to a daisy, but common sense tells you this is probable.
I'm not going to maintain a worthless exchange where someone cites slanted studies, that are defunct by thousands of beekeepers that are doing, using, and seeing results. That's a worthless waste of time.
If absolutley nothing else, SBB serve as a great method to monitor mite fall to determine the level of infection. There's no challange to that.
-Jeff