Unique Strengths of the Baton Rouge Honey Bee Research Program

The Only Lab in the World Providing Genetic Solutions for the Beekeeping Industry


Genetically resistant stocks are universally recognized as the only sustainable,
long-term option because honey bee mites are not controllable through cultural
practices and have developed resistance to all developed and approved acaricides.
This resistance has spread widely in United States populations of parasitic mites
bringing the industry to an imminent crisis.

Baton Rouge is unique in the world as a center of honey bee genetics.  It alone has
developed stocks of honey bees resistant to Varroa mites.  These stocks are
available to the industry but much work remains to make the stocks sustainable for the
long term. Current genetic material is limited and needs expansion to avoid the
inbreeding problems that plague honey bee breeding.

The unique stocks of honey bees at the Lab provide the necessary genetic materials
essential to take advantage of genomics based solutions to industry problems and is
the ideal location to grow this potential.


Human Resources

The staff is comprised of seven research scientists (including ARS only research
geneticists in honey bees) with over 70 scientist years in the area of genetic resistance
to mites and other bee hazards. Six biological technicians with over 30 years in the
area, are fully competent in a wide variety of laboratory and field techniques.


Unique Features of Location and Facilities

The unit has an APHIS- approved isolated quarantine and mating station on Grand
Terre Island. The establishment required a 7-year study to provide environmental
impact information necessary to obtain approval. The unit has additional  isolated
mating stations on Marsh Island, Rockefeller NWR and other coastal sites. These sites
are protected by open water and a vast salt marsh environment that makes them free
of other honey bees and never will be troubled with Africanized honey bees.

Climate, flora and land use patterns permit almost year-round apicultural research and
the essential early season queen propagation necessary to support research.
Additionally, the moist environment assures adequate growth of mite parasites for
experimental evaluations of resistance.

The State of Louisiana is free of Africanized bees and expected to be generally free of
their influence in the future and completely free at mating station locations.

Selected germplasm for testing or release to industry can be shipped to all continental
states and to countries in Europe and Asia avoiding importation restrictions between
states and countries based on Africanized honey bees.

The laboratory facility is surrounded by 10 dedicated acres in which to maintain
breeding and experimental colonies. The facility is located on a near campus LSU
agricultural farm that prevents of urbanization.

The physical facilities include a bee manipulation building permitting research on
modern cost effective ways to conduct varied bee management activities at a central
site.

The unit has twenty-four functional apiaries with capacity for twenty to thirty colonies
each on Louisiana Agricultural Experiment property and on private properties within a
15 mile radius.
Rural areas around the facility permit further apiary expansion as necessary.



Ongoing Projects and Resistant Stocks Currently Available to Industry

Varroa and tracheal mite resistant Russian bees - This work is about halfway through a
program of yearly importation, quarantine, screening and testing.  The goal is to
maintain three groups of about 10 elite queen lines each with high resistance to varroa
and tracheal mites, superior honey production and improved overwintering abilities
which can be interbred for the long term.  Existing stock is now available to the industry
as pure queens through a CRADA but stock development must continue to make this
critically important contribution sustainable.

SMRD trait - The suppressed mite reproduction (delayed) trait eliminates the
reproduction of female varroa mites in colonies.  The genes for this trait need to be
incorporated a variety of other stocks through a course of backcrossing and selection.
This work is essential as a parallel activity to Russian bee work so that the general
base of genetic diversity in United States bee stocks remains wide. This work is
ongoing through CRADA research.

Standard  tracheal mite resistant and susceptible stock - Used by industry cooperators
in selecting for high tracheal mite resistance in their stocks or to incorporate
germplasm into their stocks.

Charles Harper
Harper's Honey Farm
Carencro LA