Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research : Staff

Research Staff

Dr. Thomas E. Rinderer, Research Leader and a Research Geneticist, joined the laboratory in 1975. Since that time he has conducted a wide variety of research projects concerning Africanized bees, honey bee behavior, genetics and honey production. Currently he leads the team that is further evaluating and developing a stock of bees from the Far East of Russia that has resistance to varroa mites.

Phone (225) 767-9280, 767-9281. E-mail: tom.rinderer@ars.usda.gov

Dr. Lanie Bilodeau
Dr. A. Lelania Bourgeois is a Research Molecular Biologist with a background in population genetics, molecular immunology and selective breeding for disease resistance. She has assessed genetic diversity in Italian bees in the U.S. and Italy and is developing genetic markers for identification of the Russian bee stock released to the industry by the Honey Bee Breeding Lab. The primary focus of her current research is the development of genetic markers associated with resistance to varroa mites and with other economically important traits for marker-assisted breeding.

Phone (225) 767-9288. E-mail: lanie.bourgeois@ars.usda.gov

Dr. Robert G. Danka is a Research Entomologist who has studied Africanized bee behavior and abatement, genetic resistance of honey bees to Acarapis woodi (tracheal mites), and the genetic and environmental factors that limit the effective use of managed honey bees in pollination. Current work is related to breeding and technology transfer of honey bees with desirable economic characteristics, especially genetic resistance to the parasitic mite Varroa destructor (varroa mites). The goal is to help maintain the availability of healthy honey bees for commercial agricultural pollination
Phone (225) 767-9294. E-mail: bob.danka@ars.usda.gov

Dr. Lilia I. de Guzman, a Research Entomologist, has studied varroa and tracheal mite resistance of Yugoslavian and Russian bees. She also studied the molecular genetics of varroa mites worldwide. Her current research is on the mechanisms of resistance of the Russian honey bees to varroa mites and the small hive beetle.

Phone (225) 767-9282. E-mail: lilia.deguzman@ars.usda.gov

Dr. Beth Holloway is a Research Molecular Biologist . She has a diverse genetics background ranging from understanding genetic components responsible for development of zebrafish embryos, an analog system for human development, to understanding gene expression and regulation in corn as a means for crop improvement through breeding. Her research at the Honey Bee Breeding Lab focuses on developing molecular markers useful for marker assisted selection, identifying genes responsible for important colony traits, and elucidating how regulation of those genes contributes to overall colony health.

Phone (225) 767-9288. E-mail: beth.holloway@ars.usda.gov

    Dr. Matt R. Tarver, a Research Entomologist, recently joined the Honey Bee
    Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Unit where he is working on the molecular
    analysis of viral prevalence and replication in honey bee stocks.

    Phone (225) 767-9291. E-mail: matt.tarver@ars.usda.gov

Dr. José Villa is a Research Entomologist who has studied the overwintering potential of Africanized bees, the population ecology of feral bees, and the impact of parasitic mites on bees. He now works on genetic resistance of honey bee stocks to tracheal mites.

Phone (225) 767-9293. E-mail: jose.villa@ars.usda.gov

Students

Mr. Kitiphong Khongphinitbunjong (Golf) is a PhD student from Chiang Mai University in Thailand. Golf is spending one year at the Bee Lab working with Dr. Lilia de Guzman, his thesis co-advisor. Golf’s focus is on bee-mite-virus interaction.

Technical Staff

Biological technicians at the laboratory assist in all aspects of conducting research. Work activities take place both in the field and in laboratory settings. Besides home base in Baton Rouge, the research takes them to a variety of places in the U.S. The technical staff consists of:

Ms. Lorraine D. Beaman, assists with genetic markers for disease resistant research.
Phone (225) 767-9295. E-mail: lorraine.beaman@ars.usda.gov

Ms. Deanna Colby, assists with genetic markers for disease resistant research.
Phone (225) 767-9284. E-mail: deanna.colby@ars.usda.gov

Mr. Bob L. Cox ("Bob"), assists in Russian honey bee research and the evaluation of Russian queen lines resistant to varroa mites.
Phone (225) 767-9294. E-Mail: bob.cox@ars.usda.gov

Mr. Gary T. Delatte, assists in Russian honey bee research and the evaluation and development of Russian queen lines resistant to varroa mites. Also responsible for Russian stock management and propagation.
Phone (225) 767-9292. E-mail: gary.delatte@ars.usda.gov

Mr. Garrett E. Dodds, assists in studies of varroa resistant bees.
Phone (225) 767-9290. E-mail: garrett.dodds@ars.usda.gov

Mr. David F. Dodge, assists in finding and selecting specific traits of bees associated with resistance to varroa mites.
Phone (225) 767-9283. E-mail: david.dodge@ars.usda.gov

Ms. Amanda M. Frake ("Mandy"), assists in research of the mechanisms of resistance of the Russian honey bees to varroa mites and the small hive beetle.
Phone (225) 767-9298. E-mail: mandy.frake@ars.usda.gov

Ms. Sherry M. Johnson, assists with genetic markers for disease resistant research.
Phone (225) 767-9295. E-mail: mailto: sherryM.johnson@ars.usda.gov

Ms. Sharon L. O'Brien, assists in Russian honey bee research.
Ohone (225) 767-9280. E-mail: sharon.obrien@ars.usda.gov

Mr. Victor P. Rainey, assists in genetic resistance of honey bee stocks to tracheal mites.
Phone (225) 767-9284. E-mail: victor.rainey@ars.usda.gov

Mr. J. Anthony Stelzer ("Tony"), assists in Russian honey bee research, evaluation and development of Russian queen lines resistant to varroa mites, and mechanisms of varroa resistance.
Phone (225) 202-6131. E-mail: tony.stelzer@ars.usda.gov

Mr. Philip Tokarz, assists with genetic markers for breeding research.
Phone (225) 767-9286. E-mail: philip.tokarz@ars.usda.gov

Mr. Joshua W. Wales ("Josh"), assists in Russian honey bee research and stock management.
Phone (225) 767-9296. E-mail: joshua.wales@ars.usda.gov

Ms. Rachel P. Watts, assists in research of the mechanisms of resistance of the Russian honey bees to varroa mites and the small hive beetle.
Phone (225) 767-9286. E-mail: rachel.watts@ars.usda.gov

Mr. Daniel D. Winfrey ("Dan"), assists in studies of varroa resistant bees.
Phone (225) 767-9287. E-mail: daniel.winfrey@ars.usda.gov

Ms. Sandra Hineman, ("Sandy"), Program Support Assistant
Phone (225) 767-9280. E-mail: sandy.hineman@ars.usda.gov

Biological Aides contribute to achieving the research mission in a variety of ways - clerical, data entry, lab work and field crew. They are:

Jessie Davis
James King
  Jarmon King
  John West
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