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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Peter Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 10 Jun 2017 19:06:32 -0400
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Abstract – Wild honey bee colonies—both truly wild (in trees and buildings) and simulated wild (in small
hives)—were studied to determine their life-history traits, to see if these traits have changed now that these colonies
are infested with Varroa destructor . Most colonies (97%) survive summers, but only 23% of founder (first-year)
colonies and 84% of established colonies survive winters. Established colonies have a mean lifespan of 5–6 years
and most (87%) have a queen turnover (probably by swarming) each summer. A population model shows that these
life-history traits produce a stable population of colonies. Remarkably, the suite of colony life-history traits found in
the 2010s (with V. destructor ) matches that found in the 1970s (without V. destructor ). It seems likely that the wild
colonies living near Ithaca, NY, possess defenses against V. destructor that are not costly.

Life-history traits of wild honey bee colonies living in forests around Ithaca, NY, USA.
Seeley, T.D. Apidologie (2017). doi:10.1007/s13592-017-0519-1
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs13592-017-0519-1.pdf

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