Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1: My graduate student, Katie Lee, developed a standardized sampling plan for the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor. The sampling method will help beekeepers determine the level of mites in their colonies. Based on this information, beekeepers can make informed treatment decisions, which will help reduce in-hive pesticide use to control the mites. Beekeeper applied miticides are the most commonly found residues in wax comb from bee colonies nationwide. It is critical to reduce the use of these compounds as their presence in wax may have negative effects on bee health. We developed a sampling device that will be marketed by Kelley Beekeeping Company in 2010. The device will allow beekeepers collect a sample of 300 adult bees per colony and use powdered sugar to dislodge the mites from the bees to calculate mite load. Objectives 2, 3, 6 and 7. In response to wide spread losses of honey bee colonies due to Colony Collapse Disorder, our NC-508 collaborative team secured a $4.1M grant from USDA-CAP to evaluate the role and causative mechanisms of parasitic mites and pathogens in colony deaths, and to determine the effects of interactions among various factors affecting colony health. The research results from this collaborative effort, including Best Management Practices, will be posted on the new Bee Health eXtension web site: http://www.extension.org/bee%20health. In addition, results and extension information are being presented to national beekeeping conferences (American Beekeeping Federation and the American Bee Research Conference), and summaries are being published in the beekeeping trade journals. Objective 8. Through a unique technology transfer effort, we are assisting honey bee breeders in Minnesota and California select honey bee colonies for traits that help bees defend themselves against pathogens and parasites. These producers, particularly those in CA, are the source of most of the genetics (queen bees) for the beekeeping industry in the U.S. We visited 3 operations based in MN in February and in June 2009, and 18 operations in CA in March over two years (2008 and 2009). We spent 1-3 days at each operation each visit, helping them test their breeder colonies for hygienic behavior, a mechanism of resistance to diseases and parasitic mites. The three queen producers in Minnesota have effectively fixed the hygienic trait in their breeding line so we do not need to provide them inseminated breeder anymore. We continue to evaluate their stock on-site to ensure quality and degree of hygienic behavior. This hands-on service is the most highly effective method for helping producers adopt new techniques, despite the prevalence on-line information. The bee breeders uniformly responded that they learned more in these on-site visits than they learned in over 10 years of listening to researchers and extension personnel at meetings. This assistance is the fist step toward the goal of implementing a permanent Tech Transfer Team (much like professional crop consultants) to help them with stock selection and certification. PARTICIPANTS: Marla Spivak, PI. Gary Reuter, Scientist, assists with all aspects of bee breeding, data collection for field experiments, routine maintenance of honey bee colonies. He co-teaches all extension courses and co-authors and delivers extension publications and talks. Mike Goblirsch, PhD Graduate Student, Investigating Nosema disease of honey bees and its impact on colony health and Colony Collapse Disorder of honey bees. Drs. Keith Delaplane (Univ GA), J. Ellis (Univ FL), N. Ostiguy (Penn State U), Brian Etzer (USDA Pesticides CT), Anne Averill (U Mass), Frank Drummond (U Maine), W Sheppard (WSU), Z. Huang (MSU), S Cobey (UC-Davis), Kate Aronstein (USDA Weslaco TX); J. Skinner (U Tenn): Research and Extensnion Collaborators on USDA-CAP grant Darrel Rufer, Jeff Hull, Mark Sundberg: MN bee breeders propagating the MN Hygienic Line California Bee Breeders Association, 18 commercial bee breeders in northern CA. TARGET AUDIENCES: Beekeepers, bee breeders, fruit and vegetable growers that depend on bees for pollination and ecosystem services, master gardeners, general public PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Objective 1. Based on data from 31 commercial apiaries, we developed sampling plans for use by beekeepers and researchers to estimate the density of mites (per 100 bees) in individual colonies or whole apiaries. The recommendation to beekeepers is to collect ~300 adult bees from a single frame to estimate colony mite density. For sampling whole apiaries, beekeepers should examine ~300 bees from a frame in each of n = 8 colonies, regardless of apiary size, to achieve C = 0.25. Beekeepers can extrapolate to colony mite density by multiplying the number of mites on 300 bees by a correction factor of 2. Researchers requiring greater precision in estimating colony mite density should examine three, 300-bee sample units to achieve h = 0.5 or C = 0.1. To estimate apiary mite density, researchers should examine one 300-bee sample unit per colony, with the number of colonies depending on apiary size, to achieve C = 0.1. Researchers may need to estimate adult bee and brood numbers and their respective mite densities to estimate total number of mites per colony. These practical sampling plans will allow beekeepers and researchers to quantify mite density in individual colonies and apiaries to enhance understanding and management of V. destructor. The results will be submitted for publication in January 2010. Objectives 2, 3, 6 and 7: In MN, we established one of six replicate apiary sites (WA, TX, FL, ME, PA) to evaluate the factors that lead to colony death. The data for 2009 is being analyzed by collaborating labs across the country, and will include analyses of levels of parasitic mites (Varroa and tracheal mites), Nosema disease, viruses, Small Hive Beetles, analysis of pesticide residues in comb and in pollen, and assessments of colony strength over 2 years time. Objective 8. Through technology transfer, we are making measurable gains in helping U.S. queen bee breeders incorporate traits that help honey bees resist pathogens and parasitic mites in commercially available stocks. A long-range goal is to develop a national stock certification and breeding program for honey bees. Toward this goal, we have published the results of our evaluations of stock from the bee breeders in MN in two U.S. beekeeping trade journals. These articles outline our goal of promoting trait certification of honey bees in the U.S. and illustrate how it can be done based on our results. We are applying for funding to enhance our efforts in CA. Specifically, we are applying for funds from the Almond Board in CA, and from other industry groups, to support the formation of a permanent Tech Transfer Team in CA to work with the bee breeders. This team would be similar to professional crop consultants common to other commodity groups.
Publications
- Wilson-Rich N, Spivak M, Fefferman NH, Starks, PT. 2009 Genetic, individual, and group facilitation of disease resistance in insect societies. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 54: 405-23
- Spivak M, Reuter GS, Lee K, Ranum B. 2009. The future of the MN hygienic stock is in good hands! Amer. Bee J. 149(10): 965-967
- Spivak M. 2009. News from the Ivory Tower: Pesticides, Nutrition, and Bees. Quarterly Newsletter of the Minnesota Honey Producers Association. February.
- Spivak M. 2009. News from the Ivory Tower: Conserving Pollinators: A Primer for Gardeners. Quarterly Newsletter of the Minnesota Honey Producers Association. May.
- Spivak M. 2009. News from the Ivory Tower: Bee-Friendly Lawns. Quarterly Newsletter of the Minnesota Honey Producers Association. October.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The majority of the queen bees produced and distributed throughout the U.S. originate from queen breeders located in northern California, making that region the primary source of honey bee genetic material for the nation. The aim of this project is to enhance the existing lines of bees reared in that area by assisting the queen producers select for resistance traits. This main thrust of this project, therefore, is technology transfer. In February and March, 2008, we were invited to visit 16 CA Bee Breeders' operations, the majority of queen breeding operations in CA. We interviewed them about their breeding programs and helped them assay their breeding stock for hygienic behavior, the main mechanism of resistance to two brood diseases (American foulbrood and chalkbrood) and one mechanism of resistance to Varroa mites. Our goal is to facilitate inclusion of the most hygienic colonies in their breeding programs. We also showed them how to sample their colonies for Nosema, a microsporidian gut parasite of adult bees that is likely one of the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder. Each bee breeder expressed interest in selecting for resistance to this disease in the future. This project is the first step toward the development of a national stock certification program for honey bees, in which bee breeders could certify that their lines have particular traits. Certification would increase the market value of queen bees and would increase quality, genetic diversity, and health of honey bees for beekeepers nationwide. This project is the first of its kind in the U.S. to explore the feasibility of stock certification for honey bees, and is unique in its hands-on technology transfer approach. PARTICIPANTS: Marla Spivak, PI Gary Reuter, Scientist: Assists with all aspects of bee breeding, data collection for field experiments, routine maintenance of honey bee colonies. He co-teaches all extension courses, and co-authors and delivers all extension publications and talks. Katherine Lee: Graduate student. Studying sampling method for varroa mites to assist beekeepers make educated management and control decisions for this parasite. Assisted with Sampling in CA. Alison Skinner: Head Ontario Bee Breeders Technology Transfer Team, assisted with sampling in CA. Susan Cobey: Technician, University of CA - Davis. Assisted with sampling in CA. Kirk Visscher, Professor, University of Ca - Riverside. Assisted with sampling in CA. TARGET AUDIENCES: Beekeepers throughout US CA Bee Breeders Almond Growers in CA who use honey bees for pollination Fruit and Vegetable Growers throughout US who use bees for pollination PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
We tested 193 colonies for hygienic behavior, using a freeze-killed brood assay, in 16 CA Bee Breeders' operations in February and March 2008. The average percent freeze-killed brood (pupae) removed by colonies in 24 hours (correlated with level of hygienic behavior in the colony) was 68 percent (s.d. 22 percent). This result shows the background level of this behavioral trait and indicates there is much promise for selection. We also sampled bees for Nosema disease in 16 CA Bee Breeders operations, February and March, 2008. Samples of 20 foragers were collected from 308 colonies to determine the average number of spores per bee in millions. The average spore load/ bee was 2 million. In operations with averages of less than 1 million spores/ bee, the colonies had treated with an antibiotic in January 2008. These results show that all colonies are infected with Nosema, which suggests this disease plays a role in Colony Collapse Disorder. Although most bee breeders were skeptical initially about the utility of our visit, all were very enthusiastic about us returning in 2009. We will be re-visiting each bee breeder to test for hygienic behavior and Nosema again. We will also sample the male bees (drones) for sperm viability, a concern amongst the bee breeders. This is an extremely timely project and is critical to promoting the health of our nation's honey bees.
Publications
- Souza C. 2008. Breeding Better Bees: Out-of-State Researchers Visit California to Test Bee Health. AgAlert: The Weekly Newspaper for California Agriculture. March 12, 2008. www.cfbf.com
- Spivak M, Reuter GS. 2008. New Direction for the Minnesota Hygienic Line of Bees. American Bee Journal. 148(12): 1085-1086.
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