GRE Reading Comprehension
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Source: CHP
One advantage of breeding African bees with other bee types (Africanization) may be resistance to the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni, a major threat to modern beekeeping. In parts of Europe, this mite is devastating honeybees and killing many colonies despite preventive measures by beekeepers. But in Brazil Varroa jacobsoni has been present in Africanized bees since 1972 without the loss of a single colony, even though beekeepers there undertook no preventive measures. The mites lay eggs within the brood cells of immature bees, and developing mites feed on the hemolymph (blood) of bee pupae. But fewer mites reproduce in Africanized bees than in European bees. Some researchers point out that this resistance may be related to the Africanized worker bee's shorter development period, which prevents some mites from reaching maturity. Recently the mite has become a serious problem in colonies of European bees in North America. Africanization of these bees may be the best safeguard against this parasite.
The author's argument regarding the resistance of Africanized bees to Varroa jacobsoni would be most weakened if which of the following were true?
- A The bees in Brazil were resistant before being Africanized.
- B The number of bee colonies in North American increased dramatically whereas the number in Brazil remained unchanged.
- C Mites found in European bees reproduce at a faster rate than mites of identical species found in the bees in Brazil.
- D Africanized bees retain many of the characteristics of European bees.
- E Bee colonies in Europe continue to produce greater quantities of honey than do those in Brazil.