  How do we breed our disease resistant bees? |
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began this business in 1979, to breed a Disease Resistant stock
of bees which was "hygienic" in its ability to clean
up American Foulbrood. He inseminated a breeder with just one
drone, from another line with the same characteristics. In this
unique way, selection could be made in one generation to change
the behavior of the entire resulting line. This stock was later
shown to also be resistant to Chalkbrood Disease. Today from
research in Germany and Minnesota, we know this behavior is also
involved in resistance to Varroa mites. Our first breeding
step with any new stock is to test and find this trait. The queens
and their offspring will all have hygienic Disease Resistance. |
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Our reputation
for Disease Resistant bees began with the Taber Italian.This
stock is selected for gentleness and tracheal mite resistance.
It is a dark Italian which raises large brood nests in the spring
but is not quick to swarm. The bees are hygienic to clean up
brood diseases at an early stage, before they spread and contaminate
the colony. Our customers tell us that this line is an excellent
honey producer. |
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In 1993, the
USDA chose Honey Bee Genetics to breed the "Yugo" Carniolan
Stock using Instrumental Insemination. We sell Breeder Queens
by special order . Our naturally mated Production Queens of this
Yugoslavian stock breed to "Yugo" drones. This gentle,
black bee has shown excellent resistance to tracheal mites and
so should not require chemical treatment. We run tests Last fall, the USDA released its new import which was found near the coast of Eastern Russia on the Primorski Penninsula. In this region, Varroa mites have been parasitizing Honey Bees for almost 100 years. The use of chemicals has not been available to control this mite, so the resulting bees have developed a natural resistance. This stock is also a gentle and productive Carniolan bee which will please commercial beekeepers because of the excellent honey production. Our Russian queens are mated to "Yugo" Carniolan drones for a pure Carniolan bee with excellent combining characteristics. |
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for hygienic behavior and select the lines
which are the most Varroa tolerant to propagate each year.This
stock also over-winters very well and builds up fast in the spring.
This is an excellent choice for beekeepers who are experiencing
losses caused by mites.