Project Number: 6413-21000-012-05
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jul 01, 2010
End Date: Jun 30, 2014

Objective:
The main objective of this project is to develop a stock of honey bees that have increased resistance to parasitic mites as well as being good honey producers. The specific objectives are: 1) to identify population of Apis mellifera syriaca that are mite-resistant and possess good beekeeping traits, 2) to compare A. m. syriaca with the mite-resistant ARS Primorsky (Russian) honey bees from the United States, 3) to develop A. m. syriaca x Russian mite-resistant honey bee hybrids, and 4) to determine mechanisms of resistance.

Approach:
The project will serve as an additional testing for the Russian honey bees outside the United States.