I introduced 300 hygienic queens into my apiary this summer. I was told
they would clean up diseases and possibly help control varroa mites. As
far as varroa control, I can't say. Possibly. My main concern was
chalkbrood. Well, I've seen them clean up chalkbrood. Colonies rotten
with chalk were cleaned up. Two months after introduction, not a mummy
to be seen. What it will do for varroa I can't say.
    My question is this. While there were no mummies, there were the
empty cells where a larvae had died. Do they clean up chalkbrood? Yes!
Are they resistant? I don't think so. If the brood dies anyway, Is this
"hygienic gene" doing any good. They still have to make a honey crop,
and winter feed, which most did not. I had to feed massive amounts of
sugar to these colonies.
    Does anyone else have experience with the hygienic gene?   Mike