A sustainable approach to controlling honeybee diseases and varroa
mites by Marla Spivak, one of the leading US researchers, and a
breeder of 'hygienic' bees.
Bee Improvement in Cornwall, a commonsense
approach to selection criteria
Four Simple Steps to Healthier Bees by Michael Bush
http://www.bushfarms.com/FourSimpleSteps.ppt#256,1,Four Simple Steps to Healthier Bees By Michael Bush Copyright 2008
Producing Varroa-tolerant Honey Bees from
Locally Adapted Stock: A Recipe, by E.H.
Erickson, L.H. Hines, and A.A. Atmowidjojo
Two more links to Marla Spivak's work:
Direction for the Minnesota Hygienic Line of Bees, Marla Spivak and Gary S.
"We are now returning to our original goal of having queen producers and
interested beekeepers select for this trait from
among their own, tried-and-true stocks of bees. It is very important for beekeepers to
have many stocks of bees to maintain a
healthy level of genetic diversity [...] Fortunately, the hygienic
trait is found in all races and stocks of bees."
Queen, Marla Spivak and Gary S. Reuter
"Any race or line of bees can be bred for
hygienic behavior. We recommend that bee breeders select for hygienic
behavior from among their best breeder colonies; i.e., from those that
have proven to be productive, gentle, and that display all the
characteristics desired by the breeder. A breeder can get a head start
on selecting for hygienic behavior simply by rearing queens from
colonies that do not have chalkbrood."
"The effects of American foulbrood,
chalkbrood and Varroa mites can be alleviated if queen producers
select for hygienic behavior from their own lines of bees. Because a
small percentage of the managed colonies today express hygienic
behavior, it is important for many bee breeders to select for the
behavior to maintain genetic variability within and among bee lines.
Our experience has shown there are no apparent negative
characteristics that accompany the trait. Years of research experience
have shown it would greatly benefit the beekeeping industry if
productive, hygienic lines were available commercially."
Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant bees,
Final report, 2004. by Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik Österlund
of the Swedish Beekeeping Association. An extensive survey of
reports of successful breeding programs, with comments by leading
The exciting potential of remote feral bee
colonies for Varroa coexistence, a short 2005 paper by Adrian M.
Wenner of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology,
University of California. This closely parallels the general
thesis proposed here.
Ecological Beekeeping.com Joe
John Kefuss: Keeping Bees That Keep
Themselves, by M.E.A. McNeil
A report of John Kufuss' success - and the 'Live
and let Die' method
extensive site built by an experienced Californian Beekeeper, Randy
Survival of mite infested (Varroa destructor)
honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in a Nordic climate*, Ingemar
Friesa, Anton Imdorfb, Peter Rosenkrantzc
"Our results allow us to conclude that
the problems facing the apicultural industry with mite infestations is
probably linked to the apicultural system, where beekeepers remove the
selective pressure induced from the parasitism by removing mites
through control efforts."
(Please be aware of my general position: _all_ interference to
protect bees from predators, including parasites and diseases, tends to
result in offspring that require the same kind of interference.
This tends to weaken local colonies in the next generation):
Towards Sustainable Beekeeping by David Heaf:
Natural Beekeeping: an outline of the basics of keeping bees
with minimal interference (US)
The Swindon Honeybee
Conservation Group (SHCG): a UK group who have enjoyed what they
call 'Hygienic Behaviour Success'
Warré Beekeeping: a version of top-frame
hiving, with useful links