Old World Honey Bee Populations: A Genetic Resource for U.S. Honey Bee Breeding

Old World Honey Bee Populations: A Genetic Resource for U.S. Honey Bee Breeding

Summary

To date, the Western SARE funds for this grant have been used in part to pay service center costs for microsatellite analysis of honey bee samples and lab supplies associated with this analysis (reagents, primers, lab consumables, etc.); two collecting trips and supplies for sampling honey bee progeny from several queen producers in California (2014) and Hawaii (2015); and to attend and present my research at several meetings and conferences since fall 2013. Using 10 well-established microsatellites, I have analyzed several hundred honey bee colonies representative of the several subspecies of Apis mellifera in the U.S. (California, WSU breeding program) and the Old World (Italy, Slovenia, Georgia, Greece, Germany, Sicily, and Turkey). I have completed the processing of all California samples collected in 2013 and I am currently processing the worker progeny samples I collected in California in 2014. Of the colonies we were unable to sample in California, we enlisted the help of an industry sponsored technical team to obtain a number of additional samples. Additionally, the recent six month no-cost extension I received will allow me to collect a set of samples from several quesen producers in Hawaii. These Hawaiian queen producers represent a significant portion of all honey bee queens sold across the U.S., and, therefore, will serve to strengthen our overall findings.

I have attended several conferences and presented talks to a wide variety of groups regarding this research and the importance of bees. These groups include: The Entomological Society of America (National and Branch ESA conferences); beekeepers (hobbyists to large-scale producers); master gardeners; farmers (small- and large-scale); master forest stewards; and pesticide applicators through pesticide recertification programs. Below, I have listed the various groups to whom I have presented over the course of this grant.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• • Determine the genetic diversity of three honey bee subspecies ( A. m. ligustica, A. m. carnica, and A. m. caucasica) from a representative sampling of Old World honey bee populations.

• • Determine the genetic diversity of U.S. commercial honey bee populations, the first since Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

• • Evaluate the genetic diversity of germplasm releases in California and Hawaii commercial queen breeding operations.

• • Bring awareness to the genetic diversity of honey bees and its importance in sustainable agriculture and beekeeping practices.

Accomplishments/Milestones

I have completed the processing of all Old World honey bee subspecies samples (A. m. ligustica, A. m. carnica, and A. m. caucasica). These subspecies, originating from Italy, Slovenia, Georgia, Greece, Germany, Sicily, and Turkey, are either a realistic representation of what was originally brought to and established here in the U.S. or act as an effective outgroup for comparisons. All of these samples have been extracted for DNA, undergone molecular analysis, and are currently undergoing statistical analysis.

I have completed the molecular analysis for all honey bee samples collected from commercial queen production operations in California for 2013. In 2014, I successfully collected additional worker progeny samples from specific California breeder queen mother colonies selected by major queen producers for the 2014 season. This trip had been re-scheduled to an earlier date due to early almond crop conditions in California; many of the beekeepers need to have their hives placed in the almond crop to synchronize with the bloom. Additionally, I will collect samples from several major honey bee queen producers in Hawaii in spring 2015. Previous estimates of diversity in commercial stock by Delaney et al. (2009) used samples collected from 1993-1994 and 2004-2005. Analysis of 2013-2014 samples will represent the first evaluation of genetic diversity in U.S. honey bees since the advent of widespread reports of CCD.

Several CA and HI commercial queen producers have incorporated imported Old World germplasm into their breeding programs since 2008. I will evaluate the genetic diversity of these honey bee populations. These findings will be compared to those from U.S. populations sampled prior to 2008 and from current queen producers who have not incorporated imported germplasm in their operations.

Since October 2013 I have attended several conferences and presented talks to a wide variety of groups regarding this research and the importance of bees in general. These groups include: The Entomological Society of America (National and Branch ESA conferences); beekeepers (hobbyists to large-scale producers); master gardeners; farmers (small- and large-scale); master forest stewards; and pesticide applicators through pesticide recertification programs. Due to the number of talks I have given, several beekeepers heard about my research and have personally sent me samples of feral colonies within the U.S. to include in the study. Below, I have listed the various groups to whom I have presented.

• • 4/13 – Washington State Beekeepers Association (Federal Way, WA)

• • 4/13 – University of Idaho Extension: Procrastinator’s Pesticide Workshop (Sandpoint, ID)

• • 4/13 – University of Idaho Extension: Procrastinator’s Pesticide Workshop (Bonners Ferry, ID)

• • 6/13 – University of Idaho Extension: Current Topics in Forest Health (Coeur d’Alene, ID)

• • 30/13 – Central Ontario Beekeepers’ Association (Cavan, ON, Canada)

• • 9-10/14 – North American Beekeeping Conference (Baton Rouge, LA)

• • 21/14 – West Sound Beekeepers’ Association (Silverdale, WA)

• • 20/14 – University of Idaho Extension: Turf, Tree, and Landscape Conference (Post Falls, ID)

• • April 6-9/14 – Entomological Society of America Pacific Branch Annual Meeting (Tuscon, AZ)

• • May 24/14 – Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society (Sandpoint, ID)

• • June 6/14 – West Plains Beekeepers’ Association (Medical Lake, WA)

• • July 19/14 – NCW Beekeepers’ Association (Wenatchee, WA)

• • 6-8/14 – Oregon State Beekeepers’ Association Annual Meeting (Seaside, OR)

• • 16-19/14 – Entomological Society of America National Annual Meeting (Portland, OR)

• • 20-21/14 – California State Beekeepers’ Association Annual Meeting (Valencia, CA)

• • 30/14 – Central Ontario Beekeepers’ Association (Cavan, ON, Canada)

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The goal of the project is to perform a comprehensive analysis of genetic diversity of Old and New World honey bee populations and educate beekeepers, queen producers, and growers about the benefits of genetic diversity in honey bee populations. Old World populations may represent a source of additional diversity for future U.S. honey bee breeding efforts. Preliminary data generated by this project has shown that of the 95 unique alleles found in all populations sampled, 88% were found exclusively in the Old World, while only 12% were found in the U.S. Our results thus far indicate that there remains a significant amount of genetic variation in the Old World untapped by U.S. bee breeders. Once all of the samples have been analyzed, I will be able to evaluate the genetic impact of germplasm releases in California and Hawaii commercial queen breeding operations.

Collaborators: