Queen Bee Improvement Program-Building on the Foundation of Pennsylvania Survivor Stock

2011 Annual Report for FNE11-705

Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2011: $14,984.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2012
Grant Recipient: Always Summer Herbs
Region: Northeast
State: Pennsylvania
Project Leader:
Jeffrey Berta
Always Summer Herbs

Queen Bee Improvement Program-Building on the Foundation of Pennsylvania Survivor Stock

Summary

Pennsylvania Queen Bee Improvement Program

The Pennsylvania Queen Bee Improvement project was awarded a SARE grant for a field test of two promising queen bee stocks. These lines are Olympic Wilderness Apiary Survivors (OWA), and ‘Karnica’ which have been bred from chemical-free survivor stock their own geographic regions (Washington and Ohio). Local beekeepers are working along the same lines, creating what we call Pennsylvanian Survivor Stock (PSS). PSS bees are kept with chemical free methods and have survived two winters. By mating OWA and Karnica virgin queens with our local PSS drones, we merged the genetic lines of OWA and Karnica with the our winter hardy PSS stocks.

We compared these two new lines of Varroa Sensitive Hygienic (VSH) queen bees which are supposedly superior, to ordinary queen bees without VSH traits (Control). The unhatched queen cell were implanted into nucleus colonies in 6 different bee yards, then allowed to hatch and mate with our local PSS males. The goal was to have at least ten colonies of each of the three types of queens, for a total of thirty colonies. Over the season the colonies were measured for: Varroa Mite counts, hive strength, and winter hardiness.

So far, the winter kill has been greater for both the OWA and Karnica, than the Italian (Control type). The only hives that produced excess honey during the season were the OWA and Karnicas; note 2011 was bad year for honey across the state. By May, conclusions will made based on all results once Spring build up is underway.

Objectives/Performance Targets

This experimental field trial measured, and evaluate supposedly superior lines of queen bees OWA, Karnica, with a control group Italian. We compared these two new lines of Varroa Sensitive Hygienic (VSH) queen bees which are supposedly superior, to ordinary Italian queen bees with no such special claims. We started 10 colonies with queens of each of the three types, and then randomized into 6 separate bee yards. During set intervals, hives were measured for hive strength, mite count, and Winter hardiness.

Accomplishments/Milestones

We purchased 78 unhatched virgin queen bees from Miksa Honey Farm in Groveland, Florida who maintains/propagates these genetic breeds. The VSH queen’s bees we used were OWA and Karnica races of bees. The unhatched queen cell were implanted into nucleus colonies in 6 different bee yards, then allowed to hatch and mate with our local PSS males. The goal was to have at least ten colonies of each of the three types of queens, for a total of thirty colonies.

Several virgin queens failed to mated and return safely to their colony. So more unhatched virgin queen cells were shipped and implanted. In some mating yards, we had over 50% failure rates. We kept introducing new queen until we achieved the target number of at least 10 hives of each type for the study. In some yards this took until the end of July to accomplish. Overall the OWA queens were the most troublesome, and the Italians mating and returning percentages were the best.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

As of February 2012, a number of hive have died as result of Winter, and other factors. There are 20 of the original 30 project colonies remaining. Many died prior to Winter because of possible pesticide and disease problems.

The beeyards varied in performance from 100% survivorship to a low of 33%.

Of the 3 types of bees the following have survived: 50% Karnica, 70% OWA, and 80% Italian. Overal project survivor rate is 67%.

Final conclusions will be made after Spring build up is complete.

Collaborators:

Dr. Maryann Frazier

mfrazier@psu.edu
Professor Entomology
The Penn State Univ
547 Agriculture Sci & Industry Bldg
University Park, PA 16802-0000
Office Phone: 8148654621