Improving the Honeybee Queen Qualities and Genetic Diversity by Transferring Selected Queen Cells

Project Overview

ONC19-062
Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2019: $40,000.00
Projected End Date: 05/01/2022
Grant Recipient: Central State University
Region: North Central
State: Ohio
Project Coordinator:
Dr. Hongmei Li-Byarlay
Central State University

Information Products

Queen Bee Fact sheet (Fact Sheet)
Conference poster (Conference/Presentation Material)

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Animal Production: genetics
  • Crop Production: beekeeping, pollination, pollinator health
  • Education and Training: demonstration, display, extension, farmer to farmer, networking, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
  • Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
  • Pest Management: genetic resistance
  • Production Systems: organic agriculture
  • Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, public participation

    Proposal abstract:

    Honeybees are the most important managed pollinators contributing $15 billion to the US economy. However, managed bee colonies are in a 60% annual decline in Ohio. The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is the most severe factor for disease and weakness of the colonies since 1987. Promoting mite resistant bees is one of the most effective ways to mitigate the bee decline. We have a collection of bee stocks from feral colonies that are mite resistant. However, the limit factor for local honeybee resources is fewer queens and nuclei available to fulfill the demand of beekeepers in the region.  Working with experienced queen producers, we will investigate how to improve the queen quality of honeybee stocks by using the queen cells. Our objectives are 1) to test the possibility of 48-hr or 60-hr queen cells for efficient queen bee production, 2) to increase the queen quality and genetic diversity of honey bee stocks that display mite resistance behavior by using queen cells, 3) and to distribute at least 200 queens with mite resistant traits to local beekeepers by organizing 4 workshops to educate 100 beekeepers on queen biology. The outcome is to improve the quality and quantity of queen production in Ohio.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Our objectives are 1) to test the possibility of 48-hr or 60-hr queen cells for efficient queen bee production, 2) to increase the queen quality and genetic diversity of honey bee stocks that display mite resistance behavior by using queen cells, 3) and to distribute 200 queens with mite resistant traits to local beekeepers. Our project will significantly improve the beekeepers’ understanding of the biology of queen bees, and help to transfer and distribute favorable genetics to more bee farmers. The outcome is to improve the quality and quantity of queen production in the region.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.