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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Pest Management Research » Research » Research Project #448626

Research Project: Understanding Seasonal Differences in Parasitic Varroa Mite Population Resistance Levels in Honey Bee Colonies

Location: Pest Management Research

Project Number: 3032-21220-003-018-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 29, 2025
End Date: Dec 31, 2027

Objective:
Cooperator will evaluate Varroa mite resistance levels to amitraz in the Northern Great Plains within a commercial beekeeping operation. Objective of research is to assess how amitraz resistant mite population dynamics change over time based on colony conditions and season.

Approach:
Cooperator will monitor commercial honey bee colonies from multiple different apiaries four different times using an amitraz resistance field test. Varroa mites will be collected and shipped for amitraz resistance genotyping providing both phenotypic and genomic results that can be compared across season. Cooperator will be convey results at the North Dakota Beekeepers Associations annual meeting and prepare a peer-reviewed publication.