Update from the USDA Honey Bee Lab in Baton Rouge Robert Danka Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics & Physiology Laboratory 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820 225.767.9280 bob.danka@ars.usda.gov
Laboratory Mission Develop honey bees with genetic resistance to important biological threats Devise management methods to improve the usefulness of resistant bees
Research Topics Breeding for resistance to: Varroa Nosema Chalkbrood Deformed wing virus Management research: Irradiation to improve health of queens Controlling small hive beetles
Tom Rinderer Jose Villa Bob Danka Lilia De Guzman Matt Tarver Kate Aronstein Lanie Bourgeois Beth Holloway
Africanized honey bees Russian honey bees
Bob Danka Lilia De Guzman Research Leader Research Entomologist Kate Aronstein Lanie Bourgeois Mike Simone-Finstrom Research Entomologist
Resistance to Varroa destructor Russian honey bees Bees with Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH)
Russian Honey Bees Provide technical support to industry Develop selection tools Use the bees for in-house research
Technical Support Genetic certification Russian Bee Breeders Association (russianbreeder.org) Genetic certification Advice during selection for Varroa resistance and honey production
Development of Selection Tools Evaluate mites on the bottom board to estimate total infestation of the colony A high proportion of older mites is related to resistance Foundress Adult daughter Nymph Adult son
Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) Hygienic removal of mite-infested pupae High rates of VSH result in: low mite reproduction low mite population growth
Three Phases of Selection for VSH Intense selection for high VSH (only) A narrow genetic population for use in outcrosses Reproductive Non-reproductive
Three Phases of Selection for VSH 2. Pol-line (2008-2014) VSH queens mated to drones of commercial stock Selection for low mites, large bee populations and good honey production
National Geographic/Anand Varma
Response to Varroa mites in multi-drone mated VSH and Pol-line queens Ray Olivarez reports that bees with 50-75% VSH (?check with him) are productive Based on test results, Gus Rouse increased VSH in a population to >88% for high mite resistance. Many colonies had poor brood patterns. Kona queens currently do not contain VSH and tests are ongoing
Percentage of non-reproductive Varroa mites in 118 colonies with single-drone inseminated Pol-line queens Ray Olivarez reports that bees with 50-75% VSH (?check with him) are productive Based on test results, Gus Rouse increased VSH in a population to >88% for high mite resistance. Many colonies had poor brood patterns. Kona queens currently do not contain VSH and tests are ongoing
Current (3rd Phase) Selection for VSH Distribution and Selection by VP Queen Bees vpqueenbees.com Kelly Adam Rausch Finkelstein Preserve production traits in the Pol-line population Continue slow, deliberate selection of mite resistance
Selection by a cooperative breeding group Current (3rd Phase) Selection for VSH Selection by a cooperative breeding group Danielle Jose David BartJan Jeff John Bob Downey Villa Thomas Fernhout Harris Harbo Danka These are the most difficult qualifications to meet.
High level of resistance to Varroa High productivity High consistency among colonies Ray Olivarez reports that bees with 50-75% VSH (?check with him) are productive Based on test results, Gus Rouse increased VSH in a population to >88% for high mite resistance. Many colonies had poor brood patterns. Kona queens currently do not contain VSH and tests are ongoing