The Department of Homeland Security publishes a daily newsletter,  
available at http://www.dhs.gov/infrastructuredailyreport.  This  
article appeared in today's issue.

August 09, Agricultural Research Service — Russian bees more  
resistant to mites. The bee has had a rough time of it lately.  
Parasitic mites are beating down this insect that's crucial for  
producing more than $15 billion worth of U.S. crops each year. But  
according to scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS),  
there’s hope for American bees. It comes from the hills of southeast  
Russia. According to recent studies done at the ARS Honey Bee  
Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Russian bees are  
capable of deflecting three of the
honeybee’s worst assailants: varroa mites, tracheal mites and cold  
temperatures. Ten years ago, ARS bee researchers led by Thomas  
Rinderer trekked through Russia’s Primorsky Territory in search of  
bees that could naturally hold their own against varroa mites. There,  
bees have become battle−hardened against the blood−sucking mite,  
which has been harassing Russian bees for more than 150 years. Since  
Russian bees were first imported by Rinderer, they have continued to  
impress researchers. In fact, ARS entomologist Jose Villa recently  
discovered just how the bees fend off tracheal mites, which kill  
honey bees by invading and clogging their airways. Villa and fellow  
ARS entomologist Lilia De Guzman have also confirmed that Russian  
bees are excellent cold−weather survivors.

Source: http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=1261

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