From: cslade777@aol.com
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 18:02:44 EDT
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Mite damaging behaviour

In a message dated 01/08/02 12:19:32 GMT Daylight Time, RSBrenchley@aol.com
writes:

<< I believe that this is what's being suggested but I wonder whether it
could be a case of the behaviour being triggered by increasing numbers of
mites. I don't see an easy way to distinguish between the two.
>>

Robert,

This was in the early part of the year when the turnover of bees would have been small so learning is a possible explanation. Later in the year (when I have not done the check) if the behavior occurs then the most likely explanation would be response to stimulus. It probably doesn't really matter which, but the speculation is interesting.

Chris