#breedingselection

To begin with - there are some valid criticisms of this work. One is the queen rearing. Already 100 years ago, Rudolf Steiner said, that if we continue like this, with the kind of queen rearing which we operate, the bee, in 100 years, will be infertile. And he was not entirely wrong. But there are problems at the beginning and we need to quickly adapt to new situations and change quickly the genetics of many of our hives. I must not do that much longer, and Dee has ceased some time with it some time ago. Now I will tell about things, where a few will say that I'm crazy, because you simply cannot believe it, but I have tried and it worked exactly as Dee told me. I have already mentioned – it is quite simple - we must multiply the hives, that better defend themselves against the diseases, and those who are less able to handle it, we must eliminate. Ie do not kill, but you have to solve the health problem, then remove immediately the queen and replace her with one, that we have bred after certain criteria. So we need to breed queens, does not matter how, because there are many kinds. I often use the Cloake board, but it is the same. The trick that is applied by Dee, is briefly explained as follows: Dee does not search the old queens, but mimics the process of a supercedure queen in a hive. For this purpose, she breeds virgin queens, who have no smell, that is the most important factor. And she adds them to the hive with the use of smoke in a stress free situation. I could not believe it, made it many times and can say that it works to 90%. The new queen is accepted, is mated and the old one - no one knows what exactly happens, have discussed a lot about it, disappears. The question is: how do we get the virgin queens odor-free?We do the grafting and wait until the queen cells have been capped. Very important in my experience is, that we feed the hive, that builds the cells, strongly with honey. The cells are quite long and there is plenty of royal jelly left inside. I pour a pound of honey every day, just over the frames and in addition, with a feeder, I feed honey. And the other trick, that they accept many cells on the first day, is to place the frame with the grafted cells very close to the next frames (without separation) The next day they are placed at right distance. We do not do the grafting with water but with a lot of royal jelly, diluted with water - the one day old maggots are swimming in jelly. If we now have capped queen cells, we put them in thin flat-bottomed glass tubes and then in the incubator. I bought a cheap but very good incubator in which I installed a weather station sensor that monitors moisture and temperature, also with alarm. There, the queens hatch, resting first a couple of hours in sleep, usually on the back and then we can introduce them into the selected hives. Thus you can control this babies beautifully whether you like them in every aspect and you can keep them alive even up to 24 hours, or longer. These are babies, you have to feed them, clean them, give them to drink, etc. But it is best to use them straight on when they wake up. This can often be stressful for the beekeeper to get up several times at night to check them.But most important is NEVER touch the virgins by the fingers, or they take the smell. Now comes another trick. I do not know if you ever have worked your hives at night. This works well with red light, which can not be seen by the bees. I have a head lamp with red bulb and red glass, open the hive and the bees remain absolutely quiet. They cannot see us (so you can open most savage hives, and even search the queen - but beware of the bees run anywhere, preferably in the pants from the bottom). I smoke some times with the smoker through the entrance hole until it comes up through the opened lid. Then I free the virgin from the glass tube, without touching her, in a place where I suspect, that the old queen is not present at the moment. Close - ready. The most important thing is, that the bees are not stressed and we can observe that the virgin enters vehemently, the bees touch her and its finished. . Your not going to believe it, I didn't believe it either, but I have learned it. Just try it out;- . . . My son Luca has put together a video where Dee also appears at the end: In Spanish, but you can see quite a lot:Video of Michael Bush about queen rearing and selection Read the full article

Published in Bee Culture, May 2020, pages 75 – 77 - article from Erik Österlund Dr Melissa Oddie, a Canadian researcher, will continue her research for at least two years based on the Varroa resistant bees with Terje Reinertsen in central Norway. Her doctoral dissertation was based on research with these bees. The Norwegian authorities have allocated $ 1 million (NOK 8.5 million) for this research. February 21-23 the commercial beekeepers in Sweden (Biodlingsforetagarna) had a conference in Sunne in western Sweden close to the Norwegian border at the newly built hotel Selma Spa. It was fully booked. Beekeepers from Sweden, Norway and some from Finland were listening to Terje and Melissa and many others, from the University of Agriculture in Sweden (SLU), from Belgium and Canada to mention a few. Sunne is the place where Selma Lagerlöf lived, a famous author, the first woman to get the Nobel Prize in literature. Dr. Melissa Oddie and Terje Reinertsen in Sweden. Dr. Oddie discovered a salient trait in Terje Reinertsen’s bees which expresses itself in that bees uncap pupae in which there are mites and recap them again without damaging the pupae. This apparently interferes with the mites’ reproduction. The characteristic that is otherwise very much in focus today is called VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene). Here, the bees remove pupae that are invaded by mites (mites that have offspring). VSH is not a prominent feature of the resistant Norwegian bees.Visit in NorwayIn the Fall of 2019, my wife Gunvi and I visited Anita and Terje Reinertsen. They don’t have a lot of suitable agriculture land for growing crops in Norway so they use every little piece of land possible to grow food. Quite steep slopes had recently been harvested. Norway is no longer Sweden’s little brother as it’s been for many years. It’s the big brother now, with oil and gas and Varroa resistant bees!Anita and Terje Reinertsen The Varroa resistant beesSome years ago, researchers began to be interested in a population of Varroa resistant bees in Norway around Terje Reinertsen. The important thing is that you don’t have to treat them at all against the Varroa mite, and they are therefore not treated. The mite population in a hive of Terje can vary during the season. His bees havn’t been treated for about 25 years. It was about the time when the mite came to Norway. When I became aware of this, I wondered why we hadn’t heard or read more about his bees during these many years.Now there has been some exciting research reports from the works of Dr. Melissa Oddie and her coworkers.1,2,3,4 Research on these bees was the basis for her doctoral dissertation. Since then, articles and reports of the bees of Terje Reinertsen have been published.He has been focused on developing a stock of Varroa resistant bees since the mite began to create problems in Norway. And he has done that together with beekeepers in his vicinity. In April 2019, he was one of the speakers at a conference in southern Sweden on healthy bees that do not need to be treated against parasites and diseases, and how to get there. Melissa Oddie participated, together with several other speakers including also Kirk Webster from Vermont. And now in February 2020 he and Melissa Oddie were speaking in Sunne.Varroa in NorwayIn 1994, the Varroa mite had made its presence so well known among beekeepers in Norway that it was decided that bee colonies had to be treated against the mite. The central association took help from countries where they had had more experience of the mite. Among other things, it was recommended to use ”Krämerplatten” that evaporate formic acid in the bee colony.5Terje listened carefully to the advice and treated his bees in the recommended way in the Autumn of 1994. He lost 70% of his colonies in the Winter of 1994-95. Other beekeepers also lost about the same amount of beehives. Several lost 100%. Spring treatment with formic acid was then mentioned as an additional alternative to save colonies that survived the Winter. Then fewer holes in the plastic around the formic acid soft board plate were used so that the evaporation speed would not be so high.5 Terje applied this method to the survivors.Decision not to treatAfter analyzing the results of all the treatments, Terje and a some other beekeepers concluded that if you were to loose so many bee colonies after treating, you could just as well not treat, because you didn’t lose more colonies if you didn’t treat.At that time, little was known about the importance of the balance between all different types of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and other types of microbes) for the immune system. Such an ecological system of microorganisms in and on a living being is called a microbiome. For example, we humans have about 2 kg of microbes on and in us. Without them we die.Microbiome and epigeneticsThe microbiome6 is now a hot topic in research, even among bees7. The microbiome will become unbalanced if chemicals in sufficient quantities affect the bees.8 Defense against harmful microbes is weakened, for example against pathogenic viruses.Another hot topic in research is epigenetics.9 Changes in how genes in the DNA are used, in kind of a contrast (or rather complement) to how the composition of the genes in the DNA is changed through breeding (natural or beekeepers).10 Changes in the environment create changes in the DNA so that some genes are turned off and others turned on.Purchase of never treated bee coloniesIn 1995, Terje compensated for his colony losses by purchasing about 35 bee colonies. These came from an area where the Varroa hadn’t yet arrived to, so these colonies had never been treated against Varroa. Some of these colonies were splits raising new queens of their own. The new colonies developed well and wintered successfully. These were more in number than those that survived Varroa and formic acid.In the Winter of 1995-1996 and onwards, the losses were again about normal, five to 10 %, despite the lack of Varroa treatment.Because of the large losses of bees for many beekeepers in the winter of 1994-95, the reinvasion of mites was not a problem for Terje’s bees. He also started at once with the simple breeding concept he has followed through the years since. He focused in various ways to identify the worst and the best bee colonies when it comes to keep down the mite population and being resistant to viruses. Terje Reinertsen shows a split in September, grown in strength to be ready for Winter and well fed. Breeding strategyToday Terje Reinertsen doesn’t estimate the varroa level in his colonies. He doesn’t care about varroa mites anymore. Others have though made estimates. And it seems the Varroa levels mainly is 1-3%, with some exceptions at a higher level. The interesting thing is though that no signs of virus damage could be seen.His main traits for selection are 1 – Good temper 2 – High egglaying capacityEvery year he replaces the queens in the worst 30 % of his hives. They are today about 250. Once they were 350. He is in his retiring age, but he’s working all days. If not with bees, he’s hunting or fishing.Among the best 10 % of his hives he checks the very best. Good hives are of course also giving a good enough crop. He breeds queens from several of these. He does not regularly replace queens who have grown old. Only when the bee colonies are bad, whether the queens are young or old. Colonies in the mid range (and the best) are allowed to replace their queens themselves. Young queens are mostly mated in the center of an area where many good colonies of somewhat different heritage are kept. This type of mating system you can call population mating, actually the old type of line breeding where all bees in an area could be called a line.I remember Steve Taber explained what a line really was at the Bee-85 conference in Sweden many years ago. This could be likened with a kind of closed population breeding. In this way, high vitality, good harvest and genetic variation are maintained.Terje wasn’t sure it was sufficent with the buckfast variety of bees he had initially, so he tried other buckfast types and some other varieties of bees. Today, Terje’s bees could simply be called Terje bees.Comb foundationTerje got smaller cellsize wax foundation from Hans-Otto Johnsen, a beekeeper colleague. Shortly after the year of 2000 he reduced the cell size to 5.1 mm, then to 4.9 mm. Now he is in the process of setting up his own, almost commercial equipment for manufacturing wax foundation. A small mini mating nuc with three mini frames. When the queen is egglaying, Terje harvests it and introduces it in a colony that needs a new queen. Establishment of another Varroa resistant strainTen years ago he acquired 14 Norwegian carniolan queens mated in an area with only carniolan bees in Norway. These queens were introduced to splits from Terje bees. The splits were placed with a beekeeper about 60 km from Terje, isolated from other bees. Today, the 14 colonies have grown into a population of about 100 bee colonies.All new queens (and splits) come from the group and mated in its area. These colonies have never been treated against varroa. There have always been low winter losses in this group, which has become kind of a stock, a resistant stock. Maybe you can do it this way if you want to produce a Varroa resistant bee stock of a bee variety other than Terje bees.Terje queens in a different environmentA number of years ago, Terje queens were purchased to some universities in Europe. From Switzerland I have heard results how they managed. They were introduced to colonies of local bees managed in their traditional way. After the introduction of Terje queens, these colonies were not treated against Varroa, and they managed well.Active in the bee associationTerje has always helped beekeeper colleagues and beginners. He has held beginner courses for many years. And he has helped them with splits and new colonies. He has been the chairman of the local association for 20 years and vice president of the district association for many years. Once a month from April to September, the local association has a club meeting in his garden. There are gathered in average 30-35 people.The Terje stockThere are now 1500-2000 Terje bee colonies in Norway. There are about 100 beekeepers having these bees and they do not treat against Varroa. Most of these have their bees in the area where Terje lives, 20 minutes north of Oslo, the capital.One of these beekeepers, I call him Tim (his name is something else), has eight colonies and lives on the outskirts of the Terje area. There are many bee colonies other than Terje bees around him. The closest is 200 meters (yards) away. Tim has done a small measurement study on the daily natural down fall of mites during a season. It varies during the season and although from some colonies it can be quite big in May, it is low at the end of the season. References1. Oddie, M.A.Y., Dahle, B., Neumann, P. 2017. Norwegian honey bees surviving Varroa destructor mite infestations by means of natural selection. PeerJ 5:e3956 – https://peerj.com/articles/39562. Oddie, M.A.Y., Dahle, B., and Neumann, P., Reduced Postcapping Period in Honey Bees Surviving Varroa destructor by Means of Natural Selection, MDPI: Insects 2018, 9(4), 149 – https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/1493. Oddie, M., Büchler, R., Dahle, B. et al. Rapid parallel evolution overcomes global honey bee parasite. Sci Rep 8, 7704 (2018) doi:10.1038/s41598-018-26001-7 – https://rdcu.be/bZasw4. Oddie, M.A.Y., Neumann, P. & Dahle, B., Cell size and Varroa destructor mite infestations in susceptible and naturally-surviving honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies, Apidologie (2019) 50: 1. – https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-018-0610-25. A piece of soft board, drenched in 250 ml 85% formic acid, 15x17x1 cm in size, put in a tight plastic bag with 2 x 10-15 of 15 mm round holes in the plastic for evaporation, described here. – https://wiki.bienenzeitung.de/index.php?title=Krmerplatte6. https://golden.com/wiki/Microbiome7. https://mbio.asm.org/content/7/2/e02164-158. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.13149231109. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics_in_insects10. https://www.whatisepigenetics.com/the-epigenetics-of-honeybee-memory-offers-a-glimpse-into-our-own-minds/ ;https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2016.00082 Read the full article

Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesIntroductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant bees - Erik Österlund Now I want to present you a very interesting and very useful study for getting Varroa resistant bees. As already mentioned, Erik from Sweden, is one of us, who has the most experience in dealing with small cell bees. The left is Erik Österlund, Wayne Peters, then Ed Lusby, the founder of our system, and Hans-Otto Johnson, Norway, with 600 small cell hives.Erik had a brilliant idea in the 90s. At that time there were already some beekeepers around the world, who had managed to breed resistant bees. He now wrote his colleagues his experience, asking them to describe their experiences. The underlying idea was that if all had done it, or had partially succeeded in breeding bees the fought back against the disease by themselves, it must be, in all these forms of managment, some truth. And then the Internet was not yet as widespread as today, these beekeepers had little contact with each other - thus everybody of them had achieved it in their own way. Erik said so - if we make a summary of all the different experiences, we would have very useful guidelines to get to our aim, the resistant bees. And this summary exists since 2004 - and who knows? almost nobody. Somehow it seems to me that they do not want to know.Here you can read the full study here down below on this page, there are also translations to spanish and german.I'll just briefly summarize - the following advice is given to us here:1. All the colonies in the same apiary are managed the same way. 2. Have the colonies spread out in the apiary as far away from each other as possible to avoid drifting.3. Don’t keep many colonies in an apiary. How many? Maybe 6-12, it’s hard to say, but at least few in the beginning of the project when the material is uneven. It’s better to use more apiaries with fewer colonies to avoid reinfestation. The probability of many high mite population colonies in an apiary will decrease that way.4. Also try to make sure that apiaries that may spread mites heavily isn’t placed close to your project apiaries.5. Use no chemical whatsoever in the project . Or at least very little. When used, the goal is not to save a colony as colonies has to be allowed to die, the least good ones, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.6. If mite populations have to be kept low to hinder reinfestation of other colonies this is possible by other means, for example by removing all capped brood in two stages with for example 9 days in between. Remember this is not done to keep as good a producing colony alive, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.7. Make sure that the microfauna is as little disturbed (and maybe helped back if possible) as possible in the bee colony (compare with no5 above). 8. Use combs which are drawn on wax foundation made from as chemical free wax as possible. 9. Try to leave as much honey as you find possible for winter food. After all that’s what the bees ”expect” for winter food.my note: and attention - that's all for the start of conversion. Over the years, this will be completely different and much simpler.Then it continues about the importance of selective breeding. You need some method to differ the hives that fight against the varroa well, to those who do not defend themselves so well. There are many ways - the bees that bite the mites, SMR, etc etc - there are some methods described.It means to multiply the good and get rid of the bad ones (solving roblem, and then swap queen, not keep bad ones alive)I have also made the test with the frozen brood piece in the beginning, but now I can say that it is best to selected after the appearance of bald headed brood - but more on that later. (Please note this was my opinion and is not in the report by Erik)Back to the study: Now a simple recipe for the beginner is described: SUGGESTED METHODS Basics 1. As a small cell size is of no disadvantage for the bees, but maybe though so for the beekeeper who downsizes, it is a basic in a project like this, due to the reports. 2. Make sure, or as sure as possible, that you have a microfauna in your colonies, or try to improve it, by for example get a nontreated colony from somewhere to mix in bees and combs with your bees. 3. Make efforts to use as residue free wax as possible in your combs. 4. All the colonies in an apiary are managed the same way. 5. Place only 6-12 colonies in an apiary to begin with. If you loose all colonies in an apiary due to domino effects you don’t loose all and not so many. A project like this can have as many colonies you are able to supply it with, but it is said by Brother Adam once that 100 colonies is a minimum for being able to make progress. But start with as few as you can set aside for this and cooperate and exchange breeding material with others maybe (you have to cooperate if you are small to avoid inbreeding and a lowered immune system just because of the small number). Try to work at least 3 km from other beekeepers, not for the safety of their bees, because you never get any hive out of control, but for the safety of your bees. 6. Plan for more than one small apiary (placed”together”), as isolated as possible from other bees. 7. The new queens bred are mated in the center of these project apiaries, or in the center apiary. Instrumental insemination and mating islands can be used sporadically to try to make quick improvements. But there is an important point in using matings like described, to keep the genetic variation high and thus avoid inbreeding problems and health problems related to that. Also drones flying freely from untreated colonies may well be an advantage to get the best drones to mate with the queens concerning varroa resistance. If you get occasional wrong matings it will delay the progress but little, if progress is achieved.To this point of breeding selection and positionig of the colonies here.Summary of the experiences of the most successful beekeepers in dealing with Varroa resistant bees.Posted by Erik Österlund Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesFinal report 2004 by Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik Österlund of SWEDISH BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONContents - Introduction to the preliminary report - Introduction to the final report - Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor - The Goal - Methods - Some Basics - Cell size - Micro fauna and miticide residues in wax - Breeding methods used - Bee stocks described to have higher than average resistance - Basic environmental consideration - Summary of methods used - Non mixed bees - Mixed bees - Suggested methods - A simple recipe - At home - Conclusion - Comments to the preliminary report - Some of the subjects brought up in the comments - List of documents in the preliminary reportIntroduction to the preliminary reportThe aim of this study is to present a concept to achieve bees that can be kept without any use of chemicals to control the varroa mite. This concept is not presented as truth. It is presented as a possible concept that can be tested by scientists and beekeepers to confirm or falsify.As a base for this concept we have used documentation that present claims of success in this area. We deal with this documentation as if it presents the truth. We can’t sort out if the documentation is presenting the truth. Those that find this concept we present useful, will hopefully help to confirm or falsify parts of or the whole of this documentation.Much of the documentation is not of a strict scientific kind, as such a documentation is usually presented today. It is more of an anecdotal type of documentation. But as so much of scientific tests in a strict way of looking at such work lack in this area, to be able to cover the area as much as possible we have to take in account also this sort of documentation.Now, also anecdotal type of documentation is though not useless in qualifying as a base for conclusions. Conclusions are drawn in response to how this documentation is confirming or falsifying a hyphotesis or a theory. These conclusions are drawn in the purpose of making further investigation in this matter. The documentation may also give idéas for further tests or modification of the hypothesis or theory. Also the border between anecdotes and tests that qualify to be called scietific is floating, isn’t it? Of course a strict scientific test may give a better base for a better conclusion.That anecdotes of an enough covering type can give a good base for workable conclusions is shown by the fact that no strict scientific test exists that come up with the conclusion that Africanized bees are resistant to the varroa mite (or the varroa mites). Anyhow all involved agree that this is the case. That is due to the overwhelming presentations of surviving and thriving bee colonies over many years. It seems though that this conclusion don’t apply to every single bee colony in that group that many would classify as Africanized. This is not surprising, as a variation exists in every bee stock. This is of course also the case when it comes to otherbee types that are described to have a higher varroa resistance than the average bee of today of Apis mellifera. If these descriptions are true, which we take for granted in this study, others in other types of circumstances will have similar experiences. Reality will hopefully confirm or falsify this.If all the documents reflects the truth they must harmonize. That is, if there are parts of them that seem to contradict each other, there must be a way to interpret or understand them so that they harmonize. It may mean that we have missed some important part in our understanding of this subject. On the other hand if it seems impossible to get all documents in harmony, some parts of one or more, or entire documents may not be true. But if this is the case someone must be describing smaller or bigger lies. This we though find improbable, due to among other things that these different docuements in many parts do harmonize in an appearant way. Also we have got to know many of these people that are behind these documents and find it improbable that they have presented lies.We are convinced that the documents presented as a base do harmonize in all important details. That gives interesting implications of the possibilities to explain why some have more difficulties than others with a certain concept. We are also aware of that there may exist parameters that we havn’t stressed enough, or that we may have overlooked. We hope that others can fill in the gaps we may have missed.At last though reality will tell if the concept we present here will bring any positive results for beekeepers and the bees themselves. This is of course the purpose of this study.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundIntroduction to the final reportThe aim of this final report is to add comments to the preliminary report and due to these make revisions of our summary of the used methods and our suggestions for outlining tests. We also discuss the given comments shortly.The preliminary report of ‘Introductionary study for breeding varroaresistant bees’ was sent to a selected number of scientists and experienced beekeepers, who were asked to give their comments to the study, short or detailed. It was also sent to those whose experiences are described and to those that in different respects have contributed. We have received a number of comments. All that have been asked to give comments have not been able to answer, but we are very grateful for the comments we’ve got. All of the comments are valuable, short as well as more detailed. John Kefuss has given us more valuable information about his work. Dee Lusby wanted to give some response, which we have included in the section of commentsIt has been discussed many times which term(s) to use when describing the bees ability to cope with, survive and live normally with a low or high population of mites or with no mites at all. We have made it simple for us and used the term resistance for all the varieties of the bees ability in this respect. Among many this is how the term is used, right or wrong as it may be. Right is at the end how the majority use a term, and that’s the way we should use it if we would like to have the most understanding of what we are communicating.We have collected the comments and include them here in the final report, as well as our response to them. The comments have also resulted in some changes in our summaries of the documents given in the preliminary report and our suggestions for making tests based on the described methods. This is the chapter in the preliminary report named ‘Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor’, and it’s of course included in its revised form in this final report.In the preliminary report, to make it easier for those that were asked to make comments, we had copied documents that described the experiences of those that claimed total or close to total success in obtaining varroaresistant bees. The economy didn’t allow us to do this again, but we include here in the final report a list of the documents in the preliminary report, which hopefully will help those that don’t have access to the preliminary report and want to look further in the documents we have used.Once again we want to stress that in this work we don’t make any conclusions of which selection or management methods we think are successful. We give a summary of them and on the basis of the descriptions of the methods used we make suggestion that might be used to try to repeat what have been done by others. So many methods are suggested that we understand that those who want to use this study as inspiration for obtaining bees that don’t need any treatment activity against the Varroa mite probably will make a selection among these methods. Even if we don’t describe want we think are the best choices, we of course have opinions of our own. Also, we who have done this work don’t agree in all of our opinions. We can work together anyhow, which should be the characteristic of us all involved. You can guess from this report some of our opinions and some of you who read this know some or all of us enough to know. What is important, whatever our opinions may be or may be not, is that you take the ambition seriously, and hopefully make it your own, the devotion to get Varroa resistant bees. We also want you to excuse us for our limited knowledge in the English language and hope you can find the descriptions presented useful.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundConcept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructorTo have bees that don’t need any special treatment activity is a dream for every beekeeper, we hope, also for us that are behind this study. We are ”brave” enough to form a hypothesis that this is possible for every beekeeper that wants it and is able to do the work needed. We present this hypothesis because of the documents we have found on the subject.THE GOALThe goal for this study is to present ways to confirm or falsify the hypothesis. It’s only those who try who will know.METHODSWe have collected documents that describe experiences and tests concerning claims of success in breeding or keeping bees that don’t need any treatment activity, or almost any treatment, against the mite Varroa destructor. These reports then support our hypothesis. We want these successfull concepts to be tried also in other areas of the world. Is it possible to use them also in our part of the world? Can this hypothesis be further supported with positive experiences from other climatic and environmental conditions?We have tried to present the essentials of the different methods and possibilities described and tried to make a ”manual”.This manual is made to fit every type of circumstance that forms the start for a project with the goal described in the hypothesis above.You may thus start with the bees you have or with whatever suits you concerning the type of bee. With an unselected bee you start from scratch.With a bee that already is selected somewhat you may start a little later in the manual. You may choose to use many selection tools that require quite some work, or you may choose to rely more on the results concerning survival.SOME BASICSThe first two parts of the list of documents deals with the fact that honey bee colonies have an defense system which consists of many different parts, from the micro organism level (Immune sys- tem) to the colony level (and even apiary level). And bee colonies differ in their ability to fight different types of enemies. Also we as beekeepers influense this fighting ability by our management system, many times in a negative way also when we help the bee colony with for example treatment activities. This is important to remember so thatin a breeeding type of set up, or search for mana- gement systems we have to take this in account. For example, bee colonies that are not treated for varroa with chemicals (pesticides, acids and oils) of any kind can stand a higher mite/virus pressure before going downhill in such to such an extent that it can’t recover and survive. Also in such a task as this, we have to allow for bee colonies to die, or rather identify those early enough and eliminate their influence on the neighboring bee colonies. The goal is not to save susceptible colonies, but to have them identified and thus also to help to recognize those others more resistant which are to be bred from for the next generation.Cell sizeMany reports today say a smaller cell size than what is usual on most wax foundations sold today contributes to a better survivability of the bee colony. Smaller cell size was used as standard in the early days of wax foundation, most common was just below 5.1 mm cell size (5 cells in a row making one inch).Eric H. EricksonDr Eric H. Erickson, Tucson, Az, USA says bee colonies survived much better on a cell size about 5.1 mm in width, compared to the usual 5.45 mm. He speculated among other things that the fertility of the mite might be influenced. Read the full article

This is one of the most important points To put it simple, we must multiply the colonies that better defend themselves against the diseases, and those who are less able to handle it, we must eliminate. That does not mean killing them, but solve the health problem they have, then remove the queen immediately and replace her by another we have bred according to certain criteria.In order to make a choice at all, we need accurate records of each inspection of each hive, but above all the especially important data listed in relation to small cell bees. Personally, I record everything in a laptop, a Toughbook, that is always with me at the bee yards. In addition we have an optimal software, an Excel program (thanks to Felix), which was specially programmed for our needs. exclusive from ResistantBees - Excel program - online hive notes Our breeding criterias are mainly: - That they build the small cells well, which is often not so simple - Presence in the past of bald headed brood (so they defend themselves against the varroa) - - Resistance to the virus of deformed wings DWV - That the bees create brood panals without a wreath of honey at the top of the comb – this stands for very strong colonies - Proper proportion of drone brood, max 10% of the comb, no more and not much less - That they build strong coloniesThis is of course very simplified, but that would be the most importantWho wants to know more - that are Dee's breeding criteria: - Bee Breeding in the Field: Part 1 American Mite History Background - Bee Breeding in the Field: Part 2 USA Paralysis – Vicious Bee Breeding Historical Background. - Bee Breeding in the Field: Part 3 Back to Basics - Bee Breeding in the Field: Part 4 Basic Colony Thermodynamics. - Bee Breeding in the Field: Part 5 Projecting Breeding Cycles.Of course, local, original bee races are preferable because they are adapted to the climate and the flora. (We have here on the island a black bee, which only can be found here, haplotype A15) So we have to breed queens, in some way, from our best hives. Anyhow, there are many different ways. In the next report I will explain how we do it.Let us imagine in practice that we have 100 hives of small cells. Of those 100 hives, in spring 30 of them showed quite a few bald headed brood and of these, 10 also built the the small cells very well. We breed now 90 new queens from the hives which showed these two qualities, and then we must pass them as quickly as possible to the remaining 90 hives that are not showing such good qualities (this is simplified, just to understand) and eliminate their queens. Than we have reached a much better position than before. But this must happen quickly and we must have a management that can adapt quickly to changing situations. How we achieve that? I describe this in the next report , the breeding of queens.But the other problem is that we have to mate our new queens with our selected drones. And naturally, without artificial insemination. There is a trick. In Brazil there is a beekeeper who has all around him full of Africanized bees, yet he breeds pure Carniolan bees without artificial insemination. The trick is as follows:The smaller the hive is from where the virgin queen leaves in order to copulate, the closer the mating takes place.Ie, we use very small mating nucs and arrange our hives exactly as suggested by the study of Erik. We put the best hives, with the best drones in the center bee yard and the worse more far away. In the center the mating nucs are situated. And it is in fact so that the drones already apparently are waiting at the hive entrance ;-). You can observe then how the queen rushes through the air and some drones behind following her. We have another advantage with our drones. They are of course much smaller and therefore much more agile and faster than the drones from large cell hives. So they have a better chance to get even faster to our maids.The mating nucs we make here simply by cutting a standard Langstroth box in a height of 15cm and divide the space by boards into eight departments, each with an entrance hole, a cover, two bars with soldered 4.9 mm foundations and a feeding jar of 250g, which is screwed on the outside, to see how much Candi has already been consumed. My son Luca and I have made a short video about our queen breeding, which you can see in the next chapter of queen breeding. There you can also see the mating nucs.I would like to add one very important point here, which is based on the experience of many. At the beginning, when a beekeeper starts with the system by Dee Lusby, the bees first have to learn how to defend themselves. Each hive has to passs a crisis, apparently, and then it turns out, whether he wins or loses. We can take influence in different ways. Basically, we should start to work ONLY with nucs in the beginning. No large hives, until 80% of the nucs survive by themselves. Then we can proceed to normal hives. Very important: It is always much easier for the nuc to deal with varroa. In practice this means when a colony fills a box and is good crowded, we make a nuc with the queen. Everything must be very strong. It will be good to take 3 capped brood frames, the queen, honey and pollen and give them into another box at the same apiary but with the entrance orientated to another direction. Ie the parent hive has no queen and breeds a new one from the open brood. This will also cut off the varroa reproduction. The same is happening in the nuc because he loses his entire flying bees returning to the parent hive. Thus he also has a breeding break and also the breeding of varroa truncated. This is a mayor advantage in the beginning, until they can defend themselves.A few years ago I got six strong hives of large cells from a friend in Don Pedro, in the north of the island, put them on small cells and again and again I made new nucs. At the end of the year we had over 30. Everything is possible if you do everything in the right time and everything must be very strong. Read the full article

Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesIntroductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant bees - Erik Österlund Now I want to present you a very interesting and very useful study for getting Varroa resistant bees. As already mentioned, Erik from Sweden, is one of us, who has the most experience in dealing with small cell bees. The left is Erik Österlund, Wayne Peters, then Ed Lusby, the founder of our system, and Hans-Otto Johnson, Norway, with 600 small cell hives.Erik had a brilliant idea in the 90s. At that time there were already some beekeepers around the world, who had managed to breed resistant bees. He now wrote his colleagues his experience, asking them to describe their experiences. The underlying idea was that if all had done it, or had partially succeeded in breeding bees the fought back against the disease by themselves, it must be, in all these forms of managment, some truth. And then the Internet was not yet as widespread as today, these beekeepers had little contact with each other - thus everybody of them had achieved it in their own way. Erik said so - if we make a summary of all the different experiences, we would have very useful guidelines to get to our aim, the resistant bees. And this summary exists since 2004 - and who knows? almost nobody. Somehow it seems to me that they do not want to know.Here you can read the full study here down below on this page, there are also translations to spanish and german.I'll just briefly summarize - the following advice is given to us here:1. All the colonies in the same apiary are managed the same way. 2. Have the colonies spread out in the apiary as far away from each other as possible to avoid drifting.3. Don’t keep many colonies in an apiary. How many? Maybe 6-12, it’s hard to say, but at least few in the beginning of the project when the material is uneven. It’s better to use more apiaries with fewer colonies to avoid reinfestation. The probability of many high mite population colonies in an apiary will decrease that way.4. Also try to make sure that apiaries that may spread mites heavily isn’t placed close to your project apiaries.5. Use no chemical whatsoever in the project . Or at least very little. When used, the goal is not to save a colony as colonies has to be allowed to die, the least good ones, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.6. If mite populations have to be kept low to hinder reinfestation of other colonies this is possible by other means, for example by removing all capped brood in two stages with for example 9 days in between. Remember this is not done to keep as good a producing colony alive, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.7. Make sure that the microfauna is as little disturbed (and maybe helped back if possible) as possible in the bee colony (compare with no5 above). 8. Use combs which are drawn on wax foundation made from as chemical free wax as possible. 9. Try to leave as much honey as you find possible for winter food. After all that’s what the bees ”expect” for winter food.my note: and attention - that's all for the start of conversion. Over the years, this will be completely different and much simpler.Then it continues about the importance of selective breeding. You need some method to differ the hives that fight against the varroa well, to those who do not defend themselves so well. There are many ways - the bees that bite the mites, SMR, etc etc - there are some methods described.It means to multiply the good and get rid of the bad ones (solving roblem, and then swap queen, not keep bad ones alive)I have also made the test with the frozen brood piece in the beginning, but now I can say that it is best to selected after the appearance of bald headed brood - but more on that later. (Please note this was my opinion and is not in the report by Erik)Back to the study: Now a simple recipe for the beginner is described: SUGGESTED METHODS Basics 1. As a small cell size is of no disadvantage for the bees, but maybe though so for the beekeeper who downsizes, it is a basic in a project like this, due to the reports. 2. Make sure, or as sure as possible, that you have a microfauna in your colonies, or try to improve it, by for example get a nontreated colony from somewhere to mix in bees and combs with your bees. 3. Make efforts to use as residue free wax as possible in your combs. 4. All the colonies in an apiary are managed the same way. 5. Place only 6-12 colonies in an apiary to begin with. If you loose all colonies in an apiary due to domino effects you don’t loose all and not so many. A project like this can have as many colonies you are able to supply it with, but it is said by Brother Adam once that 100 colonies is a minimum for being able to make progress. But start with as few as you can set aside for this and cooperate and exchange breeding material with others maybe (you have to cooperate if you are small to avoid inbreeding and a lowered immune system just because of the small number). Try to work at least 3 km from other beekeepers, not for the safety of their bees, because you never get any hive out of control, but for the safety of your bees. 6. Plan for more than one small apiary (placed”together”), as isolated as possible from other bees. 7. The new queens bred are mated in the center of these project apiaries, or in the center apiary. Instrumental insemination and mating islands can be used sporadically to try to make quick improvements. But there is an important point in using matings like described, to keep the genetic variation high and thus avoid inbreeding problems and health problems related to that. Also drones flying freely from untreated colonies may well be an advantage to get the best drones to mate with the queens concerning varroa resistance. If you get occasional wrong matings it will delay the progress but little, if progress is achieved.To this point of breeding selection and positionig of the colonies here.Summary of the experiences of the most successful beekeepers in dealing with Varroa resistant bees.Posted by Erik Österlund Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesFinal report 2004 by Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik Österlund of SWEDISH BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONContents - Introduction to the preliminary report - Introduction to the final report - Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor - The Goal - Methods - Some Basics - Cell size - Micro fauna and miticide residues in wax - Breeding methods used - Bee stocks described to have higher than average resistance - Basic environmental consideration - Summary of methods used - Non mixed bees - Mixed bees - Suggested methods - A simple recipe - At home - Conclusion - Comments to the preliminary report - Some of the subjects brought up in the comments - List of documents in the preliminary reportIntroduction to the preliminary reportThe aim of this study is to present a concept to achieve bees that can be kept without any use of chemicals to control the varroa mite. This concept is not presented as truth. It is presented as a possible concept that can be tested by scientists and beekeepers to confirm or falsify.As a base for this concept we have used documentation that present claims of success in this area. We deal with this documentation as if it presents the truth. We can’t sort out if the documentation is presenting the truth. Those that find this concept we present useful, will hopefully help to confirm or falsify parts of or the whole of this documentation.Much of the documentation is not of a strict scientific kind, as such a documentation is usually presented today. It is more of an anecdotal type of documentation. But as so much of scientific tests in a strict way of looking at such work lack in this area, to be able to cover the area as much as possible we have to take in account also this sort of documentation.Now, also anecdotal type of documentation is though not useless in qualifying as a base for conclusions. Conclusions are drawn in response to how this documentation is confirming or falsifying a hyphotesis or a theory. These conclusions are drawn in the purpose of making further investigation in this matter. The documentation may also give idéas for further tests or modification of the hypothesis or theory. Also the border between anecdotes and tests that qualify to be called scietific is floating, isn’t it? Of course a strict scientific test may give a better base for a better conclusion.That anecdotes of an enough covering type can give a good base for workable conclusions is shown by the fact that no strict scientific test exists that come up with the conclusion that Africanized bees are resistant to the varroa mite (or the varroa mites). Anyhow all involved agree that this is the case. That is due to the overwhelming presentations of surviving and thriving bee colonies over many years. It seems though that this conclusion don’t apply to every single bee colony in that group that many would classify as Africanized. This is not surprising, as a variation exists in every bee stock. This is of course also the case when it comes to otherbee types that are described to have a higher varroa resistance than the average bee of today of Apis mellifera. If these descriptions are true, which we take for granted in this study, others in other types of circumstances will have similar experiences. Reality will hopefully confirm or falsify this.If all the documents reflects the truth they must harmonize. That is, if there are parts of them that seem to contradict each other, there must be a way to interpret or understand them so that they harmonize. It may mean that we have missed some important part in our understanding of this subject. On the other hand if it seems impossible to get all documents in harmony, some parts of one or more, or entire documents may not be true. But if this is the case someone must be describing smaller or bigger lies. This we though find improbable, due to among other things that these different docuements in many parts do harmonize in an appearant way. Also we have got to know many of these people that are behind these documents and find it improbable that they have presented lies.We are convinced that the documents presented as a base do harmonize in all important details. That gives interesting implications of the possibilities to explain why some have more difficulties than others with a certain concept. We are also aware of that there may exist parameters that we havn’t stressed enough, or that we may have overlooked. We hope that others can fill in the gaps we may have missed.At last though reality will tell if the concept we present here will bring any positive results for beekeepers and the bees themselves. This is of course the purpose of this study.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundIntroduction to the final reportThe aim of this final report is to add comments to the preliminary report and due to these make revisions of our summary of the used methods and our suggestions for outlining tests. We also discuss the given comments shortly.The preliminary report of ‘Introductionary study for breeding varroaresistant bees’ was sent to a selected number of scientists and experienced beekeepers, who were asked to give their comments to the study, short or detailed. It was also sent to those whose experiences are described and to those that in different respects have contributed. We have received a number of comments. All that have been asked to give comments have not been able to answer, but we are very grateful for the comments we’ve got. All of the comments are valuable, short as well as more detailed. John Kefuss has given us more valuable information about his work. Dee Lusby wanted to give some response, which we have included in the section of commentsIt has been discussed many times which term(s) to use when describing the bees ability to cope with, survive and live normally with a low or high population of mites or with no mites at all. We have made it simple for us and used the term resistance for all the varieties of the bees ability in this respect. Among many this is how the term is used, right or wrong as it may be. Right is at the end how the majority use a term, and that’s the way we should use it if we would like to have the most understanding of what we are communicating.We have collected the comments and include them here in the final report, as well as our response to them. The comments have also resulted in some changes in our summaries of the documents given in the preliminary report and our suggestions for making tests based on the described methods. This is the chapter in the preliminary report named ‘Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor’, and it’s of course included in its revised form in this final report.In the preliminary report, to make it easier for those that were asked to make comments, we had copied documents that described the experiences of those that claimed total or close to total success in obtaining varroaresistant bees. The economy didn’t allow us to do this again, but we include here in the final report a list of the documents in the preliminary report, which hopefully will help those that don’t have access to the preliminary report and want to look further in the documents we have used.Once again we want to stress that in this work we don’t make any conclusions of which selection or management methods we think are successful. We give a summary of them and on the basis of the descriptions of the methods used we make suggestion that might be used to try to repeat what have been done by others. So many methods are suggested that we understand that those who want to use this study as inspiration for obtaining bees that don’t need any treatment activity against the Varroa mite probably will make a selection among these methods. Even if we don’t describe want we think are the best choices, we of course have opinions of our own. Also, we who have done this work don’t agree in all of our opinions. We can work together anyhow, which should be the characteristic of us all involved. You can guess from this report some of our opinions and some of you who read this know some or all of us enough to know. What is important, whatever our opinions may be or may be not, is that you take the ambition seriously, and hopefully make it your own, the devotion to get Varroa resistant bees. We also want you to excuse us for our limited knowledge in the English language and hope you can find the descriptions presented useful.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundConcept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructorTo have bees that don’t need any special treatment activity is a dream for every beekeeper, we hope, also for us that are behind this study. We are ”brave” enough to form a hypothesis that this is possible for every beekeeper that wants it and is able to do the work needed. We present this hypothesis because of the documents we have found on the subject.THE GOALThe goal for this study is to present ways to confirm or falsify the hypothesis. It’s only those who try who will know.METHODSWe have collected documents that describe experiences and tests concerning claims of success in breeding or keeping bees that don’t need any treatment activity, or almost any treatment, against the mite Varroa destructor. These reports then support our hypothesis. We want these successfull concepts to be tried also in other areas of the world. Is it possible to use them also in our part of the world? Can this hypothesis be further supported with positive experiences from other climatic and environmental conditions?We have tried to present the essentials of the different methods and possibilities described and tried to make a ”manual”.This manual is made to fit every type of circumstance that forms the start for a project with the goal described in the hypothesis above.You may thus start with the bees you have or with whatever suits you concerning the type of bee. With an unselected bee you start from scratch.With a bee that already is selected somewhat you may start a little later in the manual. You may choose to use many selection tools that require quite some work, or you may choose to rely more on the results concerning survival.SOME BASICSThe first two parts of the list of documents deals with the fact that honey bee colonies have an defense system which consists of many different parts, from the micro organism level (Immune sys- tem) to the colony level (and even apiary level). And bee colonies differ in their ability to fight different types of enemies. Also we as beekeepers influense this fighting ability by our management system, many times in a negative way also when we help the bee colony with for example treatment activities. This is important to remember so thatin a breeeding type of set up, or search for mana- gement systems we have to take this in account. For example, bee colonies that are not treated for varroa with chemicals (pesticides, acids and oils) of any kind can stand a higher mite/virus pressure before going downhill in such to such an extent that it can’t recover and survive. Also in such a task as this, we have to allow for bee colonies to die, or rather identify those early enough and eliminate their influence on the neighboring bee colonies. The goal is not to save susceptible colonies, but to have them identified and thus also to help to recognize those others more resistant which are to be bred from for the next generation.Cell sizeMany reports today say a smaller cell size than what is usual on most wax foundations sold today contributes to a better survivability of the bee colony. Smaller cell size was used as standard in the early days of wax foundation, most common was just below 5.1 mm cell size (5 cells in a row making one inch).Eric H. EricksonDr Eric H. Erickson, Tucson, Az, USA says bee colonies survived much better on a cell size about 5.1 mm in width, compared to the usual 5.45 mm. He speculated among other things that the fertility of the mite might be influenced. Read the full article

Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesIntroductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant bees - Erik Österlund Now I want to present you a very interesting and very useful study for getting Varroa resistant bees. As already mentioned, Erik from Sweden, is one of us, who has the most experience in dealing with small cell bees. The left is Erik Österlund, Wayne Peters, then Ed Lusby, the founder of our system, and Hans-Otto Johnson, Norway, with 600 small cell hives.Erik had a brilliant idea in the 90s. At that time there were already some beekeepers around the world, who had managed to breed resistant bees. He now wrote his colleagues his experience, asking them to describe their experiences. The underlying idea was that if all had done it, or had partially succeeded in breeding bees the fought back against the disease by themselves, it must be, in all these forms of managment, some truth. And then the Internet was not yet as widespread as today, these beekeepers had little contact with each other - thus everybody of them had achieved it in their own way. Erik said so - if we make a summary of all the different experiences, we would have very useful guidelines to get to our aim, the resistant bees. And this summary exists since 2004 - and who knows? almost nobody. Somehow it seems to me that they do not want to know.Here you can read the full study here down below on this page, there are also translations to spanish and german.I'll just briefly summarize - the following advice is given to us here:1. All the colonies in the same apiary are managed the same way. 2. Have the colonies spread out in the apiary as far away from each other as possible to avoid drifting.3. Don’t keep many colonies in an apiary. How many? Maybe 6-12, it’s hard to say, but at least few in the beginning of the project when the material is uneven. It’s better to use more apiaries with fewer colonies to avoid reinfestation. The probability of many high mite population colonies in an apiary will decrease that way.4. Also try to make sure that apiaries that may spread mites heavily isn’t placed close to your project apiaries.5. Use no chemical whatsoever in the project . Or at least very little. When used, the goal is not to save a colony as colonies has to be allowed to die, the least good ones, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.6. If mite populations have to be kept low to hinder reinfestation of other colonies this is possible by other means, for example by removing all capped brood in two stages with for example 9 days in between. Remember this is not done to keep as good a producing colony alive, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.7. Make sure that the microfauna is as little disturbed (and maybe helped back if possible) as possible in the bee colony (compare with no5 above). 8. Use combs which are drawn on wax foundation made from as chemical free wax as possible. 9. Try to leave as much honey as you find possible for winter food. After all that’s what the bees ”expect” for winter food.my note: and attention - that's all for the start of conversion. Over the years, this will be completely different and much simpler.Then it continues about the importance of selective breeding. You need some method to differ the hives that fight against the varroa well, to those who do not defend themselves so well. There are many ways - the bees that bite the mites, SMR, etc etc - there are some methods described.It means to multiply the good and get rid of the bad ones (solving roblem, and then swap queen, not keep bad ones alive)I have also made the test with the frozen brood piece in the beginning, but now I can say that it is best to selected after the appearance of bald headed brood - but more on that later. (Please note this was my opinion and is not in the report by Erik)Back to the study: Now a simple recipe for the beginner is described: SUGGESTED METHODS Basics 1. As a small cell size is of no disadvantage for the bees, but maybe though so for the beekeeper who downsizes, it is a basic in a project like this, due to the reports. 2. Make sure, or as sure as possible, that you have a microfauna in your colonies, or try to improve it, by for example get a nontreated colony from somewhere to mix in bees and combs with your bees. 3. Make efforts to use as residue free wax as possible in your combs. 4. All the colonies in an apiary are managed the same way. 5. Place only 6-12 colonies in an apiary to begin with. If you loose all colonies in an apiary due to domino effects you don’t loose all and not so many. A project like this can have as many colonies you are able to supply it with, but it is said by Brother Adam once that 100 colonies is a minimum for being able to make progress. But start with as few as you can set aside for this and cooperate and exchange breeding material with others maybe (you have to cooperate if you are small to avoid inbreeding and a lowered immune system just because of the small number). Try to work at least 3 km from other beekeepers, not for the safety of their bees, because you never get any hive out of control, but for the safety of your bees. 6. Plan for more than one small apiary (placed”together”), as isolated as possible from other bees. 7. The new queens bred are mated in the center of these project apiaries, or in the center apiary. Instrumental insemination and mating islands can be used sporadically to try to make quick improvements. But there is an important point in using matings like described, to keep the genetic variation high and thus avoid inbreeding problems and health problems related to that. Also drones flying freely from untreated colonies may well be an advantage to get the best drones to mate with the queens concerning varroa resistance. If you get occasional wrong matings it will delay the progress but little, if progress is achieved.To this point of breeding selection and positionig of the colonies here.Summary of the experiences of the most successful beekeepers in dealing with Varroa resistant bees.Posted by Erik Österlund Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesFinal report 2004 by Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik Österlund of SWEDISH BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONContents - Introduction to the preliminary report - Introduction to the final report - Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor - The Goal - Methods - Some Basics - Cell size - Micro fauna and miticide residues in wax - Breeding methods used - Bee stocks described to have higher than average resistance - Basic environmental consideration - Summary of methods used - Non mixed bees - Mixed bees - Suggested methods - A simple recipe - At home - Conclusion - Comments to the preliminary report - Some of the subjects brought up in the comments - List of documents in the preliminary reportIntroduction to the preliminary reportThe aim of this study is to present a concept to achieve bees that can be kept without any use of chemicals to control the varroa mite. This concept is not presented as truth. It is presented as a possible concept that can be tested by scientists and beekeepers to confirm or falsify.As a base for this concept we have used documentation that present claims of success in this area. We deal with this documentation as if it presents the truth. We can’t sort out if the documentation is presenting the truth. Those that find this concept we present useful, will hopefully help to confirm or falsify parts of or the whole of this documentation.Much of the documentation is not of a strict scientific kind, as such a documentation is usually presented today. It is more of an anecdotal type of documentation. But as so much of scientific tests in a strict way of looking at such work lack in this area, to be able to cover the area as much as possible we have to take in account also this sort of documentation.Now, also anecdotal type of documentation is though not useless in qualifying as a base for conclusions. Conclusions are drawn in response to how this documentation is confirming or falsifying a hyphotesis or a theory. These conclusions are drawn in the purpose of making further investigation in this matter. The documentation may also give idéas for further tests or modification of the hypothesis or theory. Also the border between anecdotes and tests that qualify to be called scietific is floating, isn’t it? Of course a strict scientific test may give a better base for a better conclusion.That anecdotes of an enough covering type can give a good base for workable conclusions is shown by the fact that no strict scientific test exists that come up with the conclusion that Africanized bees are resistant to the varroa mite (or the varroa mites). Anyhow all involved agree that this is the case. That is due to the overwhelming presentations of surviving and thriving bee colonies over many years. It seems though that this conclusion don’t apply to every single bee colony in that group that many would classify as Africanized. This is not surprising, as a variation exists in every bee stock. This is of course also the case when it comes to otherbee types that are described to have a higher varroa resistance than the average bee of today of Apis mellifera. If these descriptions are true, which we take for granted in this study, others in other types of circumstances will have similar experiences. Reality will hopefully confirm or falsify this.If all the documents reflects the truth they must harmonize. That is, if there are parts of them that seem to contradict each other, there must be a way to interpret or understand them so that they harmonize. It may mean that we have missed some important part in our understanding of this subject. On the other hand if it seems impossible to get all documents in harmony, some parts of one or more, or entire documents may not be true. But if this is the case someone must be describing smaller or bigger lies. This we though find improbable, due to among other things that these different docuements in many parts do harmonize in an appearant way. Also we have got to know many of these people that are behind these documents and find it improbable that they have presented lies.We are convinced that the documents presented as a base do harmonize in all important details. That gives interesting implications of the possibilities to explain why some have more difficulties than others with a certain concept. We are also aware of that there may exist parameters that we havn’t stressed enough, or that we may have overlooked. We hope that others can fill in the gaps we may have missed.At last though reality will tell if the concept we present here will bring any positive results for beekeepers and the bees themselves. This is of course the purpose of this study.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundIntroduction to the final reportThe aim of this final report is to add comments to the preliminary report and due to these make revisions of our summary of the used methods and our suggestions for outlining tests. We also discuss the given comments shortly.The preliminary report of ‘Introductionary study for breeding varroaresistant bees’ was sent to a selected number of scientists and experienced beekeepers, who were asked to give their comments to the study, short or detailed. It was also sent to those whose experiences are described and to those that in different respects have contributed. We have received a number of comments. All that have been asked to give comments have not been able to answer, but we are very grateful for the comments we’ve got. All of the comments are valuable, short as well as more detailed. John Kefuss has given us more valuable information about his work. Dee Lusby wanted to give some response, which we have included in the section of commentsIt has been discussed many times which term(s) to use when describing the bees ability to cope with, survive and live normally with a low or high population of mites or with no mites at all. We have made it simple for us and used the term resistance for all the varieties of the bees ability in this respect. Among many this is how the term is used, right or wrong as it may be. Right is at the end how the majority use a term, and that’s the way we should use it if we would like to have the most understanding of what we are communicating.We have collected the comments and include them here in the final report, as well as our response to them. The comments have also resulted in some changes in our summaries of the documents given in the preliminary report and our suggestions for making tests based on the described methods. This is the chapter in the preliminary report named ‘Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor’, and it’s of course included in its revised form in this final report.In the preliminary report, to make it easier for those that were asked to make comments, we had copied documents that described the experiences of those that claimed total or close to total success in obtaining varroaresistant bees. The economy didn’t allow us to do this again, but we include here in the final report a list of the documents in the preliminary report, which hopefully will help those that don’t have access to the preliminary report and want to look further in the documents we have used.Once again we want to stress that in this work we don’t make any conclusions of which selection or management methods we think are successful. We give a summary of them and on the basis of the descriptions of the methods used we make suggestion that might be used to try to repeat what have been done by others. So many methods are suggested that we understand that those who want to use this study as inspiration for obtaining bees that don’t need any treatment activity against the Varroa mite probably will make a selection among these methods. Even if we don’t describe want we think are the best choices, we of course have opinions of our own. Also, we who have done this work don’t agree in all of our opinions. We can work together anyhow, which should be the characteristic of us all involved. You can guess from this report some of our opinions and some of you who read this know some or all of us enough to know. What is important, whatever our opinions may be or may be not, is that you take the ambition seriously, and hopefully make it your own, the devotion to get Varroa resistant bees. We also want you to excuse us for our limited knowledge in the English language and hope you can find the descriptions presented useful.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundConcept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructorTo have bees that don’t need any special treatment activity is a dream for every beekeeper, we hope, also for us that are behind this study. We are ”brave” enough to form a hypothesis that this is possible for every beekeeper that wants it and is able to do the work needed. We present this hypothesis because of the documents we have found on the subject.THE GOALThe goal for this study is to present ways to confirm or falsify the hypothesis. It’s only those who try who will know.METHODSWe have collected documents that describe experiences and tests concerning claims of success in breeding or keeping bees that don’t need any treatment activity, or almost any treatment, against the mite Varroa destructor. These reports then support our hypothesis. We want these successfull concepts to be tried also in other areas of the world. Is it possible to use them also in our part of the world? Can this hypothesis be further supported with positive experiences from other climatic and environmental conditions?We have tried to present the essentials of the different methods and possibilities described and tried to make a ”manual”.This manual is made to fit every type of circumstance that forms the start for a project with the goal described in the hypothesis above.You may thus start with the bees you have or with whatever suits you concerning the type of bee. With an unselected bee you start from scratch.With a bee that already is selected somewhat you may start a little later in the manual. You may choose to use many selection tools that require quite some work, or you may choose to rely more on the results concerning survival.SOME BASICSThe first two parts of the list of documents deals with the fact that honey bee colonies have an defense system which consists of many different parts, from the micro organism level (Immune sys- tem) to the colony level (and even apiary level). And bee colonies differ in their ability to fight different types of enemies. Also we as beekeepers influense this fighting ability by our management system, many times in a negative way also when we help the bee colony with for example treatment activities. This is important to remember so thatin a breeeding type of set up, or search for mana- gement systems we have to take this in account. For example, bee colonies that are not treated for varroa with chemicals (pesticides, acids and oils) of any kind can stand a higher mite/virus pressure before going downhill in such to such an extent that it can’t recover and survive. Also in such a task as this, we have to allow for bee colonies to die, or rather identify those early enough and eliminate their influence on the neighboring bee colonies. The goal is not to save susceptible colonies, but to have them identified and thus also to help to recognize those others more resistant which are to be bred from for the next generation.Cell sizeMany reports today say a smaller cell size than what is usual on most wax foundations sold today contributes to a better survivability of the bee colony. Smaller cell size was used as standard in the early days of wax foundation, most common was just below 5.1 mm cell size (5 cells in a row making one inch).Eric H. EricksonDr Eric H. Erickson, Tucson, Az, USA says bee colonies survived much better on a cell size about 5.1 mm in width, compared to the usual 5.45 mm. He speculated among other things that the fertility of the mite might be influenced. Read the full article

Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesIntroductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant bees - Erik Österlund Now I want to present you a very interesting and very useful study for getting Varroa resistant bees. As already mentioned, Erik from Sweden, is one of us, who has the most experience in dealing with small cell bees. The left is Erik Österlund, Wayne Peters, then Ed Lusby, the founder of our system, and Hans-Otto Johnson, Norway, with 600 small cell hives.Erik had a brilliant idea in the 90s. At that time there were already some beekeepers around the world, who had managed to breed resistant bees. He now wrote his colleagues his experience, asking them to describe their experiences. The underlying idea was that if all had done it, or had partially succeeded in breeding bees the fought back against the disease by themselves, it must be, in all these forms of managment, some truth. And then the Internet was not yet as widespread as today, these beekeepers had little contact with each other - thus everybody of them had achieved it in their own way. Erik said so - if we make a summary of all the different experiences, we would have very useful guidelines to get to our aim, the resistant bees. And this summary exists since 2004 - and who knows? almost nobody. Somehow it seems to me that they do not want to know.Here you can read the full study here down below on this page, there are also translations to spanish and german.I'll just briefly summarize - the following advice is given to us here:1. All the colonies in the same apiary are managed the same way. 2. Have the colonies spread out in the apiary as far away from each other as possible to avoid drifting.3. Don’t keep many colonies in an apiary. How many? Maybe 6-12, it’s hard to say, but at least few in the beginning of the project when the material is uneven. It’s better to use more apiaries with fewer colonies to avoid reinfestation. The probability of many high mite population colonies in an apiary will decrease that way.4. Also try to make sure that apiaries that may spread mites heavily isn’t placed close to your project apiaries.5. Use no chemical whatsoever in the project . Or at least very little. When used, the goal is not to save a colony as colonies has to be allowed to die, the least good ones, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.6. If mite populations have to be kept low to hinder reinfestation of other colonies this is possible by other means, for example by removing all capped brood in two stages with for example 9 days in between. Remember this is not done to keep as good a producing colony alive, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.7. Make sure that the microfauna is as little disturbed (and maybe helped back if possible) as possible in the bee colony (compare with no5 above). 8. Use combs which are drawn on wax foundation made from as chemical free wax as possible. 9. Try to leave as much honey as you find possible for winter food. After all that’s what the bees ”expect” for winter food.my note: and attention - that's all for the start of conversion. Over the years, this will be completely different and much simpler.Then it continues about the importance of selective breeding. You need some method to differ the hives that fight against the varroa well, to those who do not defend themselves so well. There are many ways - the bees that bite the mites, SMR, etc etc - there are some methods described.It means to multiply the good and get rid of the bad ones (solving roblem, and then swap queen, not keep bad ones alive)I have also made the test with the frozen brood piece in the beginning, but now I can say that it is best to selected after the appearance of bald headed brood - but more on that later. (Please note this was my opinion and is not in the report by Erik)Back to the study: Now a simple recipe for the beginner is described: SUGGESTED METHODS Basics 1. As a small cell size is of no disadvantage for the bees, but maybe though so for the beekeeper who downsizes, it is a basic in a project like this, due to the reports. 2. Make sure, or as sure as possible, that you have a microfauna in your colonies, or try to improve it, by for example get a nontreated colony from somewhere to mix in bees and combs with your bees. 3. Make efforts to use as residue free wax as possible in your combs. 4. All the colonies in an apiary are managed the same way. 5. Place only 6-12 colonies in an apiary to begin with. If you loose all colonies in an apiary due to domino effects you don’t loose all and not so many. A project like this can have as many colonies you are able to supply it with, but it is said by Brother Adam once that 100 colonies is a minimum for being able to make progress. But start with as few as you can set aside for this and cooperate and exchange breeding material with others maybe (you have to cooperate if you are small to avoid inbreeding and a lowered immune system just because of the small number). Try to work at least 3 km from other beekeepers, not for the safety of their bees, because you never get any hive out of control, but for the safety of your bees. 6. Plan for more than one small apiary (placed”together”), as isolated as possible from other bees. 7. The new queens bred are mated in the center of these project apiaries, or in the center apiary. Instrumental insemination and mating islands can be used sporadically to try to make quick improvements. But there is an important point in using matings like described, to keep the genetic variation high and thus avoid inbreeding problems and health problems related to that. Also drones flying freely from untreated colonies may well be an advantage to get the best drones to mate with the queens concerning varroa resistance. If you get occasional wrong matings it will delay the progress but little, if progress is achieved.To this point of breeding selection and positionig of the colonies here.Summary of the experiences of the most successful beekeepers in dealing with Varroa resistant bees.Posted by Erik Österlund Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesFinal report 2004 by Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik Österlund of SWEDISH BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONContents - Introduction to the preliminary report - Introduction to the final report - Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor - The Goal - Methods - Some Basics - Cell size - Micro fauna and miticide residues in wax - Breeding methods used - Bee stocks described to have higher than average resistance - Basic environmental consideration - Summary of methods used - Non mixed bees - Mixed bees - Suggested methods - A simple recipe - At home - Conclusion - Comments to the preliminary report - Some of the subjects brought up in the comments - List of documents in the preliminary reportIntroduction to the preliminary reportThe aim of this study is to present a concept to achieve bees that can be kept without any use of chemicals to control the varroa mite. This concept is not presented as truth. It is presented as a possible concept that can be tested by scientists and beekeepers to confirm or falsify.As a base for this concept we have used documentation that present claims of success in this area. We deal with this documentation as if it presents the truth. We can’t sort out if the documentation is presenting the truth. Those that find this concept we present useful, will hopefully help to confirm or falsify parts of or the whole of this documentation.Much of the documentation is not of a strict scientific kind, as such a documentation is usually presented today. It is more of an anecdotal type of documentation. But as so much of scientific tests in a strict way of looking at such work lack in this area, to be able to cover the area as much as possible we have to take in account also this sort of documentation.Now, also anecdotal type of documentation is though not useless in qualifying as a base for conclusions. Conclusions are drawn in response to how this documentation is confirming or falsifying a hyphotesis or a theory. These conclusions are drawn in the purpose of making further investigation in this matter. The documentation may also give idéas for further tests or modification of the hypothesis or theory. Also the border between anecdotes and tests that qualify to be called scietific is floating, isn’t it? Of course a strict scientific test may give a better base for a better conclusion.That anecdotes of an enough covering type can give a good base for workable conclusions is shown by the fact that no strict scientific test exists that come up with the conclusion that Africanized bees are resistant to the varroa mite (or the varroa mites). Anyhow all involved agree that this is the case. That is due to the overwhelming presentations of surviving and thriving bee colonies over many years. It seems though that this conclusion don’t apply to every single bee colony in that group that many would classify as Africanized. This is not surprising, as a variation exists in every bee stock. This is of course also the case when it comes to otherbee types that are described to have a higher varroa resistance than the average bee of today of Apis mellifera. If these descriptions are true, which we take for granted in this study, others in other types of circumstances will have similar experiences. Reality will hopefully confirm or falsify this.If all the documents reflects the truth they must harmonize. That is, if there are parts of them that seem to contradict each other, there must be a way to interpret or understand them so that they harmonize. It may mean that we have missed some important part in our understanding of this subject. On the other hand if it seems impossible to get all documents in harmony, some parts of one or more, or entire documents may not be true. But if this is the case someone must be describing smaller or bigger lies. This we though find improbable, due to among other things that these different docuements in many parts do harmonize in an appearant way. Also we have got to know many of these people that are behind these documents and find it improbable that they have presented lies.We are convinced that the documents presented as a base do harmonize in all important details. That gives interesting implications of the possibilities to explain why some have more difficulties than others with a certain concept. We are also aware of that there may exist parameters that we havn’t stressed enough, or that we may have overlooked. We hope that others can fill in the gaps we may have missed.At last though reality will tell if the concept we present here will bring any positive results for beekeepers and the bees themselves. This is of course the purpose of this study.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundIntroduction to the final reportThe aim of this final report is to add comments to the preliminary report and due to these make revisions of our summary of the used methods and our suggestions for outlining tests. We also discuss the given comments shortly.The preliminary report of ‘Introductionary study for breeding varroaresistant bees’ was sent to a selected number of scientists and experienced beekeepers, who were asked to give their comments to the study, short or detailed. It was also sent to those whose experiences are described and to those that in different respects have contributed. We have received a number of comments. All that have been asked to give comments have not been able to answer, but we are very grateful for the comments we’ve got. All of the comments are valuable, short as well as more detailed. John Kefuss has given us more valuable information about his work. Dee Lusby wanted to give some response, which we have included in the section of commentsIt has been discussed many times which term(s) to use when describing the bees ability to cope with, survive and live normally with a low or high population of mites or with no mites at all. We have made it simple for us and used the term resistance for all the varieties of the bees ability in this respect. Among many this is how the term is used, right or wrong as it may be. Right is at the end how the majority use a term, and that’s the way we should use it if we would like to have the most understanding of what we are communicating.We have collected the comments and include them here in the final report, as well as our response to them. The comments have also resulted in some changes in our summaries of the documents given in the preliminary report and our suggestions for making tests based on the described methods. This is the chapter in the preliminary report named ‘Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor’, and it’s of course included in its revised form in this final report.In the preliminary report, to make it easier for those that were asked to make comments, we had copied documents that described the experiences of those that claimed total or close to total success in obtaining varroaresistant bees. The economy didn’t allow us to do this again, but we include here in the final report a list of the documents in the preliminary report, which hopefully will help those that don’t have access to the preliminary report and want to look further in the documents we have used.Once again we want to stress that in this work we don’t make any conclusions of which selection or management methods we think are successful. We give a summary of them and on the basis of the descriptions of the methods used we make suggestion that might be used to try to repeat what have been done by others. So many methods are suggested that we understand that those who want to use this study as inspiration for obtaining bees that don’t need any treatment activity against the Varroa mite probably will make a selection among these methods. Even if we don’t describe want we think are the best choices, we of course have opinions of our own. Also, we who have done this work don’t agree in all of our opinions. We can work together anyhow, which should be the characteristic of us all involved. You can guess from this report some of our opinions and some of you who read this know some or all of us enough to know. What is important, whatever our opinions may be or may be not, is that you take the ambition seriously, and hopefully make it your own, the devotion to get Varroa resistant bees. We also want you to excuse us for our limited knowledge in the English language and hope you can find the descriptions presented useful.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundConcept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructorTo have bees that don’t need any special treatment activity is a dream for every beekeeper, we hope, also for us that are behind this study. We are ”brave” enough to form a hypothesis that this is possible for every beekeeper that wants it and is able to do the work needed. We present this hypothesis because of the documents we have found on the subject.THE GOALThe goal for this study is to present ways to confirm or falsify the hypothesis. It’s only those who try who will know.METHODSWe have collected documents that describe experiences and tests concerning claims of success in breeding or keeping bees that don’t need any treatment activity, or almost any treatment, against the mite Varroa destructor. These reports then support our hypothesis. We want these successfull concepts to be tried also in other areas of the world. Is it possible to use them also in our part of the world? Can this hypothesis be further supported with positive experiences from other climatic and environmental conditions?We have tried to present the essentials of the different methods and possibilities described and tried to make a ”manual”.This manual is made to fit every type of circumstance that forms the start for a project with the goal described in the hypothesis above.You may thus start with the bees you have or with whatever suits you concerning the type of bee. With an unselected bee you start from scratch.With a bee that already is selected somewhat you may start a little later in the manual. You may choose to use many selection tools that require quite some work, or you may choose to rely more on the results concerning survival.SOME BASICSThe first two parts of the list of documents deals with the fact that honey bee colonies have an defense system which consists of many different parts, from the micro organism level (Immune sys- tem) to the colony level (and even apiary level). And bee colonies differ in their ability to fight different types of enemies. Also we as beekeepers influense this fighting ability by our management system, many times in a negative way also when we help the bee colony with for example treatment activities. This is important to remember so thatin a breeeding type of set up, or search for mana- gement systems we have to take this in account. For example, bee colonies that are not treated for varroa with chemicals (pesticides, acids and oils) of any kind can stand a higher mite/virus pressure before going downhill in such to such an extent that it can’t recover and survive. Also in such a task as this, we have to allow for bee colonies to die, or rather identify those early enough and eliminate their influence on the neighboring bee colonies. The goal is not to save susceptible colonies, but to have them identified and thus also to help to recognize those others more resistant which are to be bred from for the next generation.Cell sizeMany reports today say a smaller cell size than what is usual on most wax foundations sold today contributes to a better survivability of the bee colony. Smaller cell size was used as standard in the early days of wax foundation, most common was just below 5.1 mm cell size (5 cells in a row making one inch).Eric H. EricksonDr Eric H. Erickson, Tucson, Az, USA says bee colonies survived much better on a cell size about 5.1 mm in width, compared to the usual 5.45 mm. He speculated among other things that the fertility of the mite might be influenced. Read the full article

Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesIntroductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant bees - Erik Österlund Now I want to present you a very interesting and very useful study for getting Varroa resistant bees. As already mentioned, Erik from Sweden, is one of us, who has the most experience in dealing with small cell bees. The left is Erik Österlund, Wayne Peters, then Ed Lusby, the founder of our system, and Hans-Otto Johnson, Norway, with 600 small cell hives.Erik had a brilliant idea in the 90s. At that time there were already some beekeepers around the world, who had managed to breed resistant bees. He now wrote his colleagues his experience, asking them to describe their experiences. The underlying idea was that if all had done it, or had partially succeeded in breeding bees the fought back against the disease by themselves, it must be, in all these forms of managment, some truth. And then the Internet was not yet as widespread as today, these beekeepers had little contact with each other - thus everybody of them had achieved it in their own way. Erik said so - if we make a summary of all the different experiences, we would have very useful guidelines to get to our aim, the resistant bees. And this summary exists since 2004 - and who knows? almost nobody. Somehow it seems to me that they do not want to know.Here you can read the full study here down below on this page, there are also translations to spanish and german.I'll just briefly summarize - the following advice is given to us here:1. All the colonies in the same apiary are managed the same way. 2. Have the colonies spread out in the apiary as far away from each other as possible to avoid drifting.3. Don’t keep many colonies in an apiary. How many? Maybe 6-12, it’s hard to say, but at least few in the beginning of the project when the material is uneven. It’s better to use more apiaries with fewer colonies to avoid reinfestation. The probability of many high mite population colonies in an apiary will decrease that way.4. Also try to make sure that apiaries that may spread mites heavily isn’t placed close to your project apiaries.5. Use no chemical whatsoever in the project . Or at least very little. When used, the goal is not to save a colony as colonies has to be allowed to die, the least good ones, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.6. If mite populations have to be kept low to hinder reinfestation of other colonies this is possible by other means, for example by removing all capped brood in two stages with for example 9 days in between. Remember this is not done to keep as good a producing colony alive, but to hinder reinfestation of the other colonies.7. Make sure that the microfauna is as little disturbed (and maybe helped back if possible) as possible in the bee colony (compare with no5 above). 8. Use combs which are drawn on wax foundation made from as chemical free wax as possible. 9. Try to leave as much honey as you find possible for winter food. After all that’s what the bees ”expect” for winter food.my note: and attention - that's all for the start of conversion. Over the years, this will be completely different and much simpler.Then it continues about the importance of selective breeding. You need some method to differ the hives that fight against the varroa well, to those who do not defend themselves so well. There are many ways - the bees that bite the mites, SMR, etc etc - there are some methods described.It means to multiply the good and get rid of the bad ones (solving roblem, and then swap queen, not keep bad ones alive)I have also made the test with the frozen brood piece in the beginning, but now I can say that it is best to selected after the appearance of bald headed brood - but more on that later. (Please note this was my opinion and is not in the report by Erik)Back to the study: Now a simple recipe for the beginner is described: SUGGESTED METHODS Basics 1. As a small cell size is of no disadvantage for the bees, but maybe though so for the beekeeper who downsizes, it is a basic in a project like this, due to the reports. 2. Make sure, or as sure as possible, that you have a microfauna in your colonies, or try to improve it, by for example get a nontreated colony from somewhere to mix in bees and combs with your bees. 3. Make efforts to use as residue free wax as possible in your combs. 4. All the colonies in an apiary are managed the same way. 5. Place only 6-12 colonies in an apiary to begin with. If you loose all colonies in an apiary due to domino effects you don’t loose all and not so many. A project like this can have as many colonies you are able to supply it with, but it is said by Brother Adam once that 100 colonies is a minimum for being able to make progress. But start with as few as you can set aside for this and cooperate and exchange breeding material with others maybe (you have to cooperate if you are small to avoid inbreeding and a lowered immune system just because of the small number). Try to work at least 3 km from other beekeepers, not for the safety of their bees, because you never get any hive out of control, but for the safety of your bees. 6. Plan for more than one small apiary (placed”together”), as isolated as possible from other bees. 7. The new queens bred are mated in the center of these project apiaries, or in the center apiary. Instrumental insemination and mating islands can be used sporadically to try to make quick improvements. But there is an important point in using matings like described, to keep the genetic variation high and thus avoid inbreeding problems and health problems related to that. Also drones flying freely from untreated colonies may well be an advantage to get the best drones to mate with the queens concerning varroa resistance. If you get occasional wrong matings it will delay the progress but little, if progress is achieved.To this point of breeding selection and positionig of the colonies here.Summary of the experiences of the most successful beekeepers in dealing with Varroa resistant bees.Posted by Erik Österlund Introductionary study for breeding Varroa resistant beesFinal report 2004 by Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik Österlund of SWEDISH BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONContents - Introduction to the preliminary report - Introduction to the final report - Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor - The Goal - Methods - Some Basics - Cell size - Micro fauna and miticide residues in wax - Breeding methods used - Bee stocks described to have higher than average resistance - Basic environmental consideration - Summary of methods used - Non mixed bees - Mixed bees - Suggested methods - A simple recipe - At home - Conclusion - Comments to the preliminary report - Some of the subjects brought up in the comments - List of documents in the preliminary reportIntroduction to the preliminary reportThe aim of this study is to present a concept to achieve bees that can be kept without any use of chemicals to control the varroa mite. This concept is not presented as truth. It is presented as a possible concept that can be tested by scientists and beekeepers to confirm or falsify.As a base for this concept we have used documentation that present claims of success in this area. We deal with this documentation as if it presents the truth. We can’t sort out if the documentation is presenting the truth. Those that find this concept we present useful, will hopefully help to confirm or falsify parts of or the whole of this documentation.Much of the documentation is not of a strict scientific kind, as such a documentation is usually presented today. It is more of an anecdotal type of documentation. But as so much of scientific tests in a strict way of looking at such work lack in this area, to be able to cover the area as much as possible we have to take in account also this sort of documentation.Now, also anecdotal type of documentation is though not useless in qualifying as a base for conclusions. Conclusions are drawn in response to how this documentation is confirming or falsifying a hyphotesis or a theory. These conclusions are drawn in the purpose of making further investigation in this matter. The documentation may also give idéas for further tests or modification of the hypothesis or theory. Also the border between anecdotes and tests that qualify to be called scietific is floating, isn’t it? Of course a strict scientific test may give a better base for a better conclusion.That anecdotes of an enough covering type can give a good base for workable conclusions is shown by the fact that no strict scientific test exists that come up with the conclusion that Africanized bees are resistant to the varroa mite (or the varroa mites). Anyhow all involved agree that this is the case. That is due to the overwhelming presentations of surviving and thriving bee colonies over many years. It seems though that this conclusion don’t apply to every single bee colony in that group that many would classify as Africanized. This is not surprising, as a variation exists in every bee stock. This is of course also the case when it comes to otherbee types that are described to have a higher varroa resistance than the average bee of today of Apis mellifera. If these descriptions are true, which we take for granted in this study, others in other types of circumstances will have similar experiences. Reality will hopefully confirm or falsify this.If all the documents reflects the truth they must harmonize. That is, if there are parts of them that seem to contradict each other, there must be a way to interpret or understand them so that they harmonize. It may mean that we have missed some important part in our understanding of this subject. On the other hand if it seems impossible to get all documents in harmony, some parts of one or more, or entire documents may not be true. But if this is the case someone must be describing smaller or bigger lies. This we though find improbable, due to among other things that these different docuements in many parts do harmonize in an appearant way. Also we have got to know many of these people that are behind these documents and find it improbable that they have presented lies.We are convinced that the documents presented as a base do harmonize in all important details. That gives interesting implications of the possibilities to explain why some have more difficulties than others with a certain concept. We are also aware of that there may exist parameters that we havn’t stressed enough, or that we may have overlooked. We hope that others can fill in the gaps we may have missed.At last though reality will tell if the concept we present here will bring any positive results for beekeepers and the bees themselves. This is of course the purpose of this study.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundIntroduction to the final reportThe aim of this final report is to add comments to the preliminary report and due to these make revisions of our summary of the used methods and our suggestions for outlining tests. We also discuss the given comments shortly.The preliminary report of ‘Introductionary study for breeding varroaresistant bees’ was sent to a selected number of scientists and experienced beekeepers, who were asked to give their comments to the study, short or detailed. It was also sent to those whose experiences are described and to those that in different respects have contributed. We have received a number of comments. All that have been asked to give comments have not been able to answer, but we are very grateful for the comments we’ve got. All of the comments are valuable, short as well as more detailed. John Kefuss has given us more valuable information about his work. Dee Lusby wanted to give some response, which we have included in the section of commentsIt has been discussed many times which term(s) to use when describing the bees ability to cope with, survive and live normally with a low or high population of mites or with no mites at all. We have made it simple for us and used the term resistance for all the varieties of the bees ability in this respect. Among many this is how the term is used, right or wrong as it may be. Right is at the end how the majority use a term, and that’s the way we should use it if we would like to have the most understanding of what we are communicating.We have collected the comments and include them here in the final report, as well as our response to them. The comments have also resulted in some changes in our summaries of the documents given in the preliminary report and our suggestions for making tests based on the described methods. This is the chapter in the preliminary report named ‘Concept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructor’, and it’s of course included in its revised form in this final report.In the preliminary report, to make it easier for those that were asked to make comments, we had copied documents that described the experiences of those that claimed total or close to total success in obtaining varroaresistant bees. The economy didn’t allow us to do this again, but we include here in the final report a list of the documents in the preliminary report, which hopefully will help those that don’t have access to the preliminary report and want to look further in the documents we have used.Once again we want to stress that in this work we don’t make any conclusions of which selection or management methods we think are successful. We give a summary of them and on the basis of the descriptions of the methods used we make suggestion that might be used to try to repeat what have been done by others. So many methods are suggested that we understand that those who want to use this study as inspiration for obtaining bees that don’t need any treatment activity against the Varroa mite probably will make a selection among these methods. Even if we don’t describe want we think are the best choices, we of course have opinions of our own. Also, we who have done this work don’t agree in all of our opinions. We can work together anyhow, which should be the characteristic of us all involved. You can guess from this report some of our opinions and some of you who read this know some or all of us enough to know. What is important, whatever our opinions may be or may be not, is that you take the ambition seriously, and hopefully make it your own, the devotion to get Varroa resistant bees. We also want you to excuse us for our limited knowledge in the English language and hope you can find the descriptions presented useful.Tore Forsman, Per Ideström and Erik ÖsterlundConcept for obtaining honeybees of Apis mellifera that don’t need any treatment activity against the mite Varroa destructorTo have bees that don’t need any special treatment activity is a dream for every beekeeper, we hope, also for us that are behind this study. We are ”brave” enough to form a hypothesis that this is possible for every beekeeper that wants it and is able to do the work needed. We present this hypothesis because of the documents we have found on the subject.THE GOALThe goal for this study is to present ways to confirm or falsify the hypothesis. It’s only those who try who will know.METHODSWe have collected documents that describe experiences and tests concerning claims of success in breeding or keeping bees that don’t need any treatment activity, or almost any treatment, against the mite Varroa destructor. These reports then support our hypothesis. We want these successfull concepts to be tried also in other areas of the world. Is it possible to use them also in our part of the world? Can this hypothesis be further supported with positive experiences from other climatic and environmental conditions?We have tried to present the essentials of the different methods and possibilities described and tried to make a ”manual”.This manual is made to fit every type of circumstance that forms the start for a project with the goal described in the hypothesis above.You may thus start with the bees you have or with whatever suits you concerning the type of bee. With an unselected bee you start from scratch.With a bee that already is selected somewhat you may start a little later in the manual. You may choose to use many selection tools that require quite some work, or you may choose to rely more on the results concerning survival.SOME BASICSThe first two parts of the list of documents deals with the fact that honey bee colonies have an defense system which consists of many different parts, from the micro organism level (Immune sys- tem) to the colony level (and even apiary level). And bee colonies differ in their ability to fight different types of enemies. Also we as beekeepers influense this fighting ability by our management system, many times in a negative way also when we help the bee colony with for example treatment activities. This is important to remember so thatin a breeeding type of set up, or search for mana- gement systems we have to take this in account. For example, bee colonies that are not treated for varroa with chemicals (pesticides, acids and oils) of any kind can stand a higher mite/virus pressure before going downhill in such to such an extent that it can’t recover and survive. Also in such a task as this, we have to allow for bee colonies to die, or rather identify those early enough and eliminate their influence on the neighboring bee colonies. The goal is not to save susceptible colonies, but to have them identified and thus also to help to recognize those others more resistant which are to be bred from for the next generation.Cell sizeMany reports today say a smaller cell size than what is usual on most wax foundations sold today contributes to a better survivability of the bee colony. Smaller cell size was used as standard in the early days of wax foundation, most common was just below 5.1 mm cell size (5 cells in a row making one inch).Eric H. EricksonDr Eric H. Erickson, Tucson, Az, USA says bee colonies survived much better on a cell size about 5.1 mm in width, compared to the usual 5.45 mm. He speculated among other things that the fertility of the mite might be influenced. Read the full article