When stag for Apis mellifera , apiarist typically view honey production , general temperament and wintertime tolerance . Certainly , those timbre are significant , but others weigh just as much . Thanks to the efforts of entomologists and queen breeders , backyard beekeepers now have access code to bee with some strange — and useful — genetic trait .
VS-Huh?
Consider , for illustration , the Varroa mite — foresighted one of beekeeping ’s biggest headaches . apiculturist have relied on synthetic miticides and nonchemical method acting to control these eight - legged vampires , but researcher working on the trouble discovered that some honeybees were by nature better fitted out to fight mites than others . They then fastidiously selected for the trait bed as Varroa Sensitive Hygiene , also called VSH .
Just how does it work ? ferment out VSH bee can detect when brood cells have been parasitized by Varroa pinch . Agricultural Research Service ( USDA )
Usually , the mites ’ activity — feeding on vernal bees during their development within capped , brood cells — go unnoticed . Then , parasitized adult bee emerge , weakened and potentially diseased , and adult mites ( image above , greatly magnify ) come forth along with them . last , female mites retrieve Modern , assailable brood cells in which to lay their orchis , and the process begins again . Left ungoverned , Varroa mites can scourge the colonies they dwell .
But , smell shenanigans , VSH bee uncap affected cell , remove parasitized brood and mites , and strip out the mobile phone for a fresh start . While these exceptional bees wo n’t catch every last tinge , they do importantly reduce a colony ’s overall mite loads .
Minnesota Hygienic Bees
Minnesota hygienic bee behave likewise ; however , they are able to notice the bearing of American foulbrood and chalkbrood in cells . Developed at the University of Minnesota ’s Bee Research Facility by Dr. Marla Spivak , Minnesota hygienical bees uncap unnatural cells and remove infected brood , which help oneself arrest the spread of disease .
Spivak and others in her laboratory , admit Apicultural Technician Gary Reuter , provided the Minnesota hygienical mental strain to multiple beekeepers in the industry . “ It ’s not that we wanted everyone to use the Minnesota hygienic bee , ” Reuter notes . “ We wanted to have more diversity in genetic science across the state . So , we encourage fag breeder to breed for that hygienic behavior in their own stock . ”
What to Expect
Are you considering strain VSH or Minnesota hygienic bee in your apiary ? Individualqueensor queen and nucs with these specialized trait seem to be more common than full bee packages . They can be pricey , too . A single , pronounced VSH queen can be as much as $ 50 with shipping . Shop around , and make certain the breeder you choose has been nation - inspected and complies with your state ’s agrarian rules .
provide your specialised queen regnant is accept into the dependency , her offspring will carry and exhibit her hygienic trait . If you require to be certain that you ’re getting what you pay for , you may performhygienic examination . But , Reuter says , “ You have to wait at least six weeks before you do any testing on it , so that the bees in the colony will be the materialisation of that new queen . ”
What exactly happens during those first six calendar week ? Well , it submit 21 days for her initial materialisation to come forth . Then , another few week must pass to enable population numbers game to build and for the fresh bees to age into their various roles within the colony .
Agricultural Research Service (USDA)
Long Live the Queen?
Sadly , your fancy , Modern queen wo n’t live forever . “ Unfortunately , right now , a world-beater that lives for more than two or three twelvemonth is exceptional , ” Reuter says . “ Between the Varroa jot and the virus , there are just so many issues in the hive that it ’s unusual for a queen to last that long . ”
Should something chance to your queen regnant , the colony will attempt to exchange her . Their surrogate queen will then mate with areadrones , and , although some of the original queen ’s specialized trait could remain , these probably will be lose with subsequent pansy . In other Holy Writ ? For reproducible hygienical behavior , you ’ll take to re - pouf with marked , mated fairy from a VSH or Minnesota hygienic fagot breeder .
Strength in Numbers
You do have at least one other option . If you have a local beekeeping society , equate government note about the kinds of bee presently being kept in your area , and experimentation with different varieties . If you find one that work well , look at going in together to purchase several queens with the same characteristics .
“ If a number of hobbyist beekeeper in one sphere get together and start wreak hand in glove so that they all have the same type of farm animal , the drones in that surface area would all have the same traits , ” Reuter explains .
