| Russian Queen Project Chronology |
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The Russian Honey Bee Queen Breeding Project
The table below is a year-by-year listing of activities associated with the Russian Honey Bee Queen Breeding Project since its inception to release.
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 1994 |
Trip to Russia to investigate the possibilities of Varroa resistant bees. |
Make contacts and meet cooperators in the Primorsky Territory of Far-Eastern Russia. Set up 5 year research agreement. |
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| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 1995 | Run a concurrent test in Baton Rouge with domestic queens. |
A "Road Trip" in the Primorsky Territory, collecting 50 queens from various local beekeepers. Set up resistance test in the Primorsky Territory of Russia. |
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| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 1996 |
Mite test with domestic queens in Baton Rouge. |
Identical test with Russian queens in the Primorsky Territory of Russia. | |||
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 1997 |
Phase I First queen importation to U.S. for program. Queens go into quarantine on a barrier island in Louisiana. |
Collect and propagate selected queens from the test, plus additional untested queens from different area beekeepers. Import 100 queens to U.S. in July | |||
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 1998 | Evaluate and test all 100 imported queens after 6 month quarantine. Propagate selected lines for long term resistance test. | Collect new untested queens from different area beekeepers for inclusion in ongoing evaluation test in Russia |
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| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 1999 |
24 lines selected from early data in long term resistance test to be propagated for field trials. Lines set upin "Blocks" - Long term resistance test continues Second queen importation from Russia to quarantine |
Collect selected queens from the test plus additional untested queens from different area beekeepers and take to U.S. in June. Collect new untested queens from different area beekeepers for inclusion in ongoing evaluation test in Russia. |
Block "A" field trials started. 6 selected Russian lines from the long term resistance test are propagated Test yards set up with cooperators in 3 lines are selected for release in 2000 |
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| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2000 | Evaluation and selection of Queens from second importation (1999) to be included in the test blocks Third Queen importation from Russia to Quarantine. |
Collect selected Queens from the test plus additional untested Queens from different area beekeepers and take to USA in July.
Collect new untested Queens from different area beekeepers for inclusion in ongoing evaluation test in Russia. |
Release Breeders selected in 1999 field trials: Maintain selected Block "A" lines. |
Block "B" field trials started. Eight selected Russian lines from the long term resistance test are propagated using drones from lines in Block "A" and Block "C". 3 lines are selected for release in 2001 |
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| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2001 | Evaluation and selection of Queens from third importation (2000) to be included in the test blocks
Fourth Queen importation from Russia to Quarantine. |
Collect selected Queens from the test plus additional untested Queens from different area beekeepers and take to USA in July.
Collect new untested Queens from different area beekeepers for inclusion in ongoing evaluation test in Russia. |
Propagate and maintain Block "A" lines. Use selected Block "B" and Block "C" drones.
Incorporate selected Queens from evaluation of second importation (1999). |
Release Breeders selected in 2000 field trials: 00B-795: Blue* 00B-716: Green 00B-775: Yellow Maintain Selected Block "B" lines. |
BLOCK "C" field trials started. Eight selected Russian lines from the long term resistance test and the 1999 importation are propagated using drones from lines in Block "A" and Block "B".
Test yards set up with cooperators in IA -M. Bigalk 3 lines are selected for release in 2002 |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2002 | Evaluation and selection of Queens from fourth importation (2001) to be included in the test blocks
Fifth Queen importation from Russia to Quarantine. |
Collect selected Queens from the test plus additional untested Queens from different area beekeepers and take to USA in August.
End of 5-year research in Russia. |
Second round for Block "A" field trials. Eight selected Russian lines from maintained "A" lines and the incorporated Queens from the second importation (1999) are propagated using selected drones from Block "B" and Block "C".
Test yards set up with cooperators in 2 lines are selected for release in 2003 |
Propagate and maintain Block "B" lines. Use selected Block "A" and Block "C" drones.
Incorporate selected Queens from evaluation of third importation (2000). |
Release Maintain Selected Block "C" lines. |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2003 | Evaluation and selection of Queens from fifth importation (2002) to be included in the test blocks. | Nothing at this time. |
Release Maintain Selected Block "A" lines. |
Second round for Block "B" field trials. Eight selected Russian lines from maintained "B" lines and the incorporated Queens from the third importation (2000) are propagated using selected drones from Block "A" and Block "C".
Test yards set up with cooperators in IA -M. Bigalk 2 lines are selected for release in 2004 |
Propagate and maintain Block "C" lines. Use selected Block "A" and Block "B" drones.
Incorporate selected Queens from evaluation of fourth importation (2001). |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2004 |
Evaluation and selection of Queens from fifth importation (2002) to be included in the test blocks. Conclusion of Phase II Russian Queen Tests. |
Nothing at this time. | Propagate and maintain Block "A" lines. Use selected Block "B" and Block "C" drones.
Incorporate selected Queens from evaluation of fourth importation (2002). |
Release Maintain Selected Block "B" lines. |
Second round for Block "C" field trials. Eight selected Russian lines from maintained "C" lines and the incorporated Queens from the fifth importation (2002) are propagated using selected drones from Block "A" and Block "B". Selected for release in 2005 |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2005 |
Phase III Russian Queen Selection |
Nothing at this time. |
Daughters from 6 selected Block "A" breeder Queens are propagated and set up in yards for evaluation, selection and release in 2006. Test yards set up with cooperators in Selected for release in 2006 |
Daughters from 6 selected Block "B" Queens are propagated and set up in yards for long term evaluation. Breeders will be selected in the fall of 2006 for release in the spring of 2007. |
Release Daughters from 6 selected Block "C" Queens are propagated and set up in yards for maintenance. |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2006 | Continuation of Phase III Russian Queen Selection. |
Nothing at this time. |
Release Daughters from 6 selected Block "A" breeder Queens are propagated and set up in yards for maintenance |
The Block "B" long term evaluation continues. Selected for release in 2007 |
Daughters from 6 selected Block "C" breeder Queens are propagated and set up in yards for long term evaluation. Breeders will be selected in the fall of 2007 for release in the spring of 2008. |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2007 |
Continuation of Phase III Assist in the establishment and 1st meeting of the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association. Members receive drone stock in preparation for propagation, maintenance and selection of queens. |
Nothing at this time. | Daughters from 6 selected Block "A" breeder Queens are propagated and set up in yards for long term evaluation. Breeders will be selected in the fall of 2008 for release in the spring of 2009. |
Release Daughters from 6 selected Block "B" breeder Queens are propagated and set up in yards for maintenance. |
The Block "C" long term evaluation continues. Selected for release in 2008 |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2008 |
Finishing Phase III Begin Phase IV Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association (RQBA). Members receive assigned line Breeder queens for propagation, maintenance and selection of queens to be released in 2010. |
Nothing at this time. |
The Block "A" long term evaluation continues. Breeders will be selected in the fall for release in the spring of 2009. Selected for release in 2009 |
Daughters from the 6 selected Block "B" breeder Queens are propagated and set up in yards for line maintenance. Line evaluation and selection will be done by the RQBA. Their selection of this group will be released in 2010. |
Release Daughters from the 6 selected Group "C" breeder Queens are propagated and set up in yards for maintenance. Line evaluation and selection will be done by the RQBA. Their selection of this group will be released in 2011. |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2009 | The Baton Rouge Bee Lab begins working on selection of other traits of the Russian bees such as overwintering, buildup and swarm characteristics. | Nothing at this time. |
Release Members of the RHBA, Block "A", propagate, maintain, evaluate and select their particular lines in an on-going selection process for queen release in 2012. |
Members of the RHBA, Block "B", propagate, maintain, evaluate and select their particular lines in an on-going selection process for queen release in 2010. Selected for release in 2010 |
Members of the RHBA, Block "C", propagate, maintain, evaluate and select their particular lines in an on-going selection process for queen release in 2011. |
| Year | Activity | Russia | Block "A" | Block "B" | Block "C" |
| 2010 | The Baton Rouge Bee Lab continues working on selection of other traits of the Russian bees such as overwintering, buildup and swarm characteristics. | Nothing at this time. | Members of the RHBA, Block "A", propagate, maintain, evaluate and select their particular lines in an on-going selection process for queen release in 2012. |
Release Members of the RHBA, Block "A", propagate, maintain, evaluate and select their particular lines in an on-going selection process for queen release in 2013. |
Members of the RHBA, Block "C", propagate, maintain, evaluate and select their particular lines in an on-going selection process for queen release in 2011. |
* The use of a Queen color in any given year DOES NOT indicate that this is the same line from year to year. There are a limited number of primary colors with which to mark the Queens for testing purposes. When referring to a particular line, use release year and color, i.e. "I have a 2002 Purple, and a 2001 Purple."
+ In order to avoid confusion in lines from year to year, the following color scheme has been implemented beginning with the release of breeder Queens in 2004: Groups will have a base color and lines will have their individual line colors. Unlike the line colors prior to 2004, these line colors are permanent and INDICATE THE SAME LINE IN EACH CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
Block "A" - WHITE + line color
Block "B" - LIGHT BLUE + line color
Block "C" - NEON YELLOW + line color
The purpose of Phase I of the Russian Queen project was to determine if there was Varroa resistance in Russian queen lines. The purpose of Phase II was to test this resistance in field conditions, and to add more genetic material to the resistant pool by continued importation and evaluation of queens from Russia. At the end of Phase II, permanent queen lines were established. Six lines each from Group A, B, C. Phase III continued to evaluate and improve these lines and the "Best of the Best" were released to the industry on a yearly basis by group. Phase IV is the culmination of 14 years of effort. The Russian queen breeding, evaluation and selection has been turned over to the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association. With input and guidance from the Baton Rouge Bee Lab, the RHBA will continue the breeding and selection program. The Baton Rouge Bee Lab will continue to be a repository of Russian stock, and will work on other aspects of the Russian queen characteristics.
