1. 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

2. Laboratory Mission
Develop honey bees with genetic resistance to important biological threats
Devise management methods to improve the usefulness of resistant bees

3. Research Topics Breeding for resistance to: Varroa Nosema Chalkbrood
Deformed wing virus
Management research:
Irradiation to improve health of queens
Controlling small hive beetles

4. Tom Rinderer
Jose Villa
Bob Danka
Lilia De Guzman
Matt Tarver
Kate Aronstein
Lanie Bourgeois
Beth Holloway

5. Africanized honey bees
Russian honey bees

6. Bob Danka
Lilia De Guzman
Research
Leader
Research
Entomologist
Kate Aronstein
Lanie Bourgeois
Mike
Simone-Finstrom
Research
Entomologist

7. Resistance to Varroa destructor
Russian honey bees
Bees with Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH)

8. Russian Honey Bees Provide technical support to industry
Develop selection tools
Use the bees for in-house research

9. Technical Support Genetic certification
Russian Bee Breeders Association (russianbreeder.org)
Genetic certification
Advice during selection for Varroa resistance and honey production

10. 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

11. Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH)
Hygienic removal of mite-infested pupae
High rates of VSH result in:
low mite reproduction
low mite population growth

12. Three Phases of Selection for VSH
Intense selection for high VSH (only)
A narrow genetic population for use in outcrosses
Reproductive
Non-reproductive

13. Three Phases of Selection for VSH
2. Pol-line ( )
VSH queens mated to drones of commercial stock
Selection for low mites, large bee populations and good honey production

14. National Geographic/Anand Varma

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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