How do you know that the
outside apiary bee colonies are "wild"? The research from Ireland (you have given a link to a lecture which summarizes the Research) shows that their annual average death rate is close to 55% (you need to get a calculator and number crunch the Supplementary Stats.).
Surely a 55% death rate per year means that there are only bees
outside apiaries because of
escapees from apiaries, if there were no escaped swarms from apiaries then this "wild" population would die out! Which means they're not wild only feral.
Also you said "beekeepers being able to keep their bees treatment free", how do you know that isn't just luck? I've spoken to beeks from Co. Donegal that tell me it took over 20 years for Varroa to arrive with them. I also know of other beeks that are in very isolated places in Scotland, meaning that there is no way for Varroa to migrate towards them, meaning after a treatment several years ago they haven't needed to treat again .... NOT because their bees are Varroa Resistant but because they haven't been re-infested with the mites!
I'm not trying to annoy you in any way, I just want to understand what you are saying.
Have you seen research that isn't yet published, or have these beeks that don't treat had their bees tested to see if they are Varroa Resistant instead of just lucky?
I want to believe...
that there are Wild Colonies and therefore Varroa Resistant (or at the very least Tolerant) Bees in Ireland, BUT every time I hear someone or some-group make these claims, I read the Research (being cited) or contact the individual(s) to ask for additional information (like I am now doing with you - I do this with everyone) and to date not one person has been able to substantiate their claims.
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