Worker

The Russian honeybee refers to honey bees (Apis mellifera) that originate in the Primorsky Krai region of Russia. This strain of bee was imported into the United States in 1997 by the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Honeybee Breeding, Genetics & Physiology Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in response to severe declines in bee populations caused by infestations of parasitic mites,[1] and has been used in breeding programs to improve existing stocks. Many Russian queens openly mate with drones from various stock, creating colonies that are genetically hybrid.[2]  Some of these 'uncontrolled' hybrids may exhibit "increased aggressiveness, reduced honey production and a decrease in their ability to withstand mites and detrimental expressions of other traits as well."[3]

Breeding program

In conjunction with the staff at the Baton Rouge Bee Laboratory, the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association (RHBA) was conceived in the late 1990s, and works to certify apiarists who maintain only pure-bred Russian honey bees. These stocks are bred and DNA tested for resistance to Varroa mites and increased honey production. Their charge is as follows: "The primary purpose of the Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association is to maintain and improve the genetic lines of Russian honey bees through prorogation and selective breeding."[4] In order to ensure pure-bred stock, an isolated mating site, a barrier island in Louisiana, was chosen as the location for this program.[5] This program is not static as management techniques and genetic stocks develop over time to improve the health and viability of Russian honeybee stocks.

Brood rearing and swarming

comb with brood
Brood

When first introduced to a colony, a Russian queen may take as long as 16 days to begin laying eggs. In addition to this delay as compared to other bee stocks, Russian queens can be difficult to requeen and take longer for their acceptance into a new hive, especially if they are being introduced into a hive of another stock.[3] Once successfully introduced, Russian honeybees are better able to manage their population and increase their over-wintering ability than other honeybee types due to their breeding schedule. During pollen dearths, Russian honeybees decrease their brood production to ensure adequate food stocks for the hive.[6]

Adult female Varroa mite
Tracheal mite
Small hive beetle

The Russian honeybees' quick response to environmental cues allows for better management of brood rearing, but can also create swarming issues. This is due to a rapid buildup of brood stock, which can lead to swarming if not managed properly. It is also a common trait for the Russian honeybee to create supersedure cells, but their presence does not necessarily indicate an impending swarm.[3]

Honey production

Multi-state field trials have shown that Russian honeybees either meet or exceed industry standards for honey production.[7]

Pests and diseases

Varroa mite

Russian honey bees have been proven to be more than twice as resistant to various parasitic mites than other honeybees.[8] This strain occurs in the original native range of the Varroa mite, and selective pressure could have favored bees that exhibited aggressive behavior against colony-level mite infestations. Accordingly, experimental research has found that mite populations decline in colonies of pure Russian and of hybrid Russian-Italian bees.[9] The mechanisms through which mite populations are controlled in these colonies include hygienic behavior towards mites,[10] and possibly increased aggression towards mites.[11] In addition, Russian honeybees are able to detect female Varroa mites within breeding cells, which they uncap leaving the mite exposed.[12]

Tracheal mites

Russian honey bees also have been shown to resist infestation by the tracheal mite Acarapis woodi. This heritable trait is likely brought about through grooming behaviors of the bees.[13]

Small hive beetle

Russian honeybees when compared to A. m. ligustica Italian honeybees, have been shown to exhibit heightened aggression toward small hive beetles (SHB), resulting in "fewer invading beetles, lower small hive beetle population through time, and lesser reproduction."[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Tracheal Mites Resistant Bees". USDA ARS. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  2. ↑ "Comparison of Russian and Italian Honey Bees". NC State Extension Publications. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  3. 1 2 3 "Russian Bees". Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association, Inc. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  4. ↑ "Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association". USDA ARS. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  5. ↑ "Release of USDA-ARS Russian Honey Bees". USDA ARS. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  6. ↑ "Mechanisms Of Resistance". Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association, Inc. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "Multi-state field trials of Russian honey bees: Honey Production". Agricultural Research Service. www.ars.usda.gov. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  8. ↑ "Comparison of Russian and Italian Honey Bees". NC State Extension Publications. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  9. ↑ Tarpy, D. R.; Summers, J.; Keller, J. J. (1 April 2007). "Comparison of Parasitic Mites in Russian-Hybrid and Italian Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies across Three Different Locations in North Carolina". Journal of Economic Entomology. 100 (2): 258–266. doi:10.1093/jee/100.2.258. ISSN 0022-0493. PMID 17461045.
  10. ↑ de Guzman, Lilia I.; Rinderer, Thomas E.; Delatte, Gary T.; Stelzer, J. Anthony; Beaman, Lorraine; Kuznetsov, Victor (July 2002). "Resistance to Acarapis woodi by honey bees from far-eastern Russia". Apidologie. 33 (4): 411–415. doi:10.1051/apido:2002031. ISSN 0044-8435.
  11. ↑ Gale, Albert (1912). Australian bee lore and bee culture, including the influence of bees on crops and the colour of flowers and its influence on bee life. Sydney: W. Brooks. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.56561.
  12. ↑ "Mechanisms Of Resistance". Russian Honey Bee Breeders Association, Inc. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  13. ↑ "Honey bee tracheal mites: Gone? But not for good". Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Bee Health. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  14. ↑ Frake, Amanda; et al. (2009). "Comparative resistance of Russian and Italian honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to small hive beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)" (PDF). Journal of Economic Entomology. 102 (1): 13–9. doi:10.1603/029.102.0103. PMID 19253612. S2CID 6079828. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
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