Selection
Our selection criteria place a weighted emphasis on varroa mite resistance. Russian bees exhibit multiple mechanisms of resistance to varroa mites. Rather than selecting for a single trait our program monitors for varroa mite population growth (mpg) for extended periods. Honey production is also considered. Though honey bee tracheal mites have never been an issue in our colonies of Russian honey bees we continue to screen potential breeders for their presence. We also monitor and include nosema in our selection. As many of our monitoring periods extend for many months, often through winter, hardiness/reliability/survivability are also tested.
Nosema Spores
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Honey Bee Tracheal Mites
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Certification
To become a certified breeder for the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association members must annually demonstrate their qualifications by producing queens from designated lines in isolated mating yards. These mating yards must be stocked with sufficient numbers of appropriate drone source colonies. Line queens must be produced in sufficient numbers so that a large number of colonies started with these queens can be monitored for further selection and additional queens can be shipped to fellow members to lead drone source colonies and also so that the lines can be evaluated by the entire membership.
Once all data is collected and evaluated at the end of a monitoring period emerging workers from the most highly rated colonies are tested by the USDA-ARS Honey Bee Genetics and Physiology Lab in Baton Rouge, LA for genetic purity.
test yards, above and below
To become a certified breeder for the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association members must annually demonstrate their qualifications by producing queens from designated lines in isolated mating yards. These mating yards must be stocked with sufficient numbers of appropriate drone source colonies. Line queens must be produced in sufficient numbers so that a large number of colonies started with these queens can be monitored for further selection and additional queens can be shipped to fellow members to lead drone source colonies and also so that the lines can be evaluated by the entire membership.
Once all data is collected and evaluated at the end of a monitoring period emerging workers from the most highly rated colonies are tested by the USDA-ARS Honey Bee Genetics and Physiology Lab in Baton Rouge, LA for genetic purity.
test yards, above and below
Typical data sheet below:
