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Subject:
Mite resistant bees
From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:22:12 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
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Hi all
Everybody talks about mite resistant bees, who has them, etc. but few have any documentation of any actual side by side testing. So, it's a lot of hot air without evidence other than "works for me." An example of a real world test is this:

The utility of USDA-developed Russian and varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) honey
bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), was compared with that of locally produced, commercial
Italian bees during 2004-2006 in beekeeping operations in Alabama, USA. Infestations of
varroa mites, Varroa destructor Anderson & Truman (Acari: Varroidae), were measured twice each
year, and colonies that reached established economic treatment thresholds (one mite per 100 adult
bees in late winter; 5-10 mites per 100 adult bees in late summer) were treated with acaricides.

The total percentages of colonies needing treatment against varroa mites were 12% of VSH, 24% of
Russian, and 40% of Italian. The total percentages requiring treatment against tracheal mites were 1%
of Russian, 8% of VSH and 12% of Italian. The average honey yield of Russian and VSH colonies was
comparable with that of Italian colonies each year. Beekeepers did not report any significant behavioral
problems with the resistant stocks. These stocks thus have good potential for use in nonmigratory
beekeeping operations in the southeastern United States.

Queen Survival. The longevity of queens of the three stocks did not differ. The estimated average life span was 10.6
months for Russian queens, 9.6  months for VSH queens, and 8.4 months for control queens.

Comparative Performance of Two Mite-Resistant Stocks of
Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Alabama Beekeeping Operations
Author(s) :Kenneth Ward, Robert Danka, Rufina Ward
Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, 101(3):654-659. 2008.

* * *

Note: these queen survival rates are appalling. Until someone figures this out, it is questionable whether it is worth investing 20 to 30 dollars in a queen. What good is mite resistant stock if you can't keep the queen in the hive even one year? 

PLB

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