Field Validation of Practical Mite Resistance Tests Across Apiaries To Strengthen Small-Scale Breeder Selection

Commodities

Practices

The core problem this project aims to solve is that beekeepers still lack practical, reliable, field-ready tools to identify true Varroa-resistant colonies. Although decades of research show that resistance traits like suppressed mite reproduction and hygienic behavior exist, most small-scale and sideline beekeepers do not have accessible methods
to measure them. As a result, breeding decisions are often based on survivorship, gut instinct, or single metrics like low mite washes none of which reliably indicate heritable resistance. The simplified Harbo assay, PKB test, and mite washes each capture part of the picture, but my own multi-year data has shown inconsistent results when these tools are used without standardization across yards, equipment, colony age, and sampling timing.

This inconsistency means beekeepers often misidentify breeder colonies, accidentally propagate weak genetics, or treat more than necessary, masking the very traits we need. At the same time, commercial operations report that resistant stock is hard to find, and current supply cannot meet demand. Without a validated, repeatable screening process that small producers can actually perform, the pipeline of trustworthy resistant queens will never develop. This project addresses that gap by testing, comparing, and stabilizing these field tools so beekeepers can finally select with confidence.

The regenerative agriculture component lies in reducing chemical dependency. If beekeepers can
reliably identify resistant colonies, they can select and propagate queens that require fewer treatments or none at all. This reduces pesticide residues in comb, prevents chemical resistance in mites, improves colony longevity, and strengthens local adaptation. Instead of relying on continual chemical inputs, the system shifts toward biological resilience and locally selected genetics, which aligns directly with regenerative agriculture principles.

The project also includes a strong educational component. Each year, the participating beekeepers refine the testing protocol based on field experience. Results are shared through the Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan (SBGMI) and Northern Queen Initiative (NQI) via webinars, field days, and plain-language summaries. The teaching emphasizes hands-on demonstration, showing beekeepers exactly how to perform each assay, how to interpret results, and how to apply the protocol to their own stock.

The innovation is not a new test, it is creating the first practical, validated, field-ready resistance-screening system that small producers can trust, replicate, and use to build healthier, chemical-independent bees.

Objectives Include:

• Standardize and manage 40 research colonies across two apiaries to create a controlled testing environment.

• Perform repeat, multi-season SHA, PKB, and mite-wash assays to evaluate how consistently each test identifies resistant colonies.

• Compare agreement between the tests and determine which early-season measures best predict late-season mite control.

• Conduct targeted viral testing to connect resistance indicators with actual colony health.

• Produce a simple, field-ready screening protocol that small-scale beekeepers can use to confidently select breeder colonies.

• Share results through SBGMI and NQI workshops, webinars, and written summaries.