Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health
Project Number: 2030-21000-055-015-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 31, 2028
Objective:
Train beekeepers and honey bee breeders in the California region to recognize traits associated with Varroa sensitive hygiene and to integrate it within breeding operations so that Varroa destructor, a major pest of honey bees, can be sustainably controlled. Participate in Area-wide efforts to monitor the performance of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene honey bee stock by developing and maintaining an apiary of honey bee colonies headed by queens bred from Varroa Sensitive Hygiene stock.
Approach:
The USDA Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit will collaborate with the Niño Bee Lab of the University of California Davis, Department of Entomology and Nematology, to track and evaluate the performance of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene stock colonies. Colonies will be maintained and monitored by the Niño Bee Lab and kept in UC Davis Apiary space, which the ARS will be given access to. ARS will provide all colony equipment including frames, hive boxes, lids, and bottom boards and will maintain ownership of the equipment at the project’s conclusion. UC Davis will work with the USDA to develop colony management strategies and sampling procedures, and ARS will be responsible for storing and shipping samples for assessments of chemical residues and genomic characterization. With assistance from UC Davis, ARS will conduct laboratory experiments parallel to field experiments to assess the performance of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene stock queens under different simulated environmental conditions. Additionally, the Niño Bee Lab will assist in organizing and advertising for a meeting to train stakeholders on how to recognize Varroa sensitive Hygiene traits and to implement breeding strategies to increase their prevalence in their operations. In addition, joint peer reviewed publications and outcomes will be evaluated and promoted in cooperation with the University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension specialist. Program enhancements will thus be directly transferred to end-users as the program advances through direct application and assessment.
