Project Number: 6413-21000-010-03
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Sep 30, 2003
End Date: Dec 31, 2005

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to determine, under Alabama beekeeping conditions, the utility of honey bees (Apis mellifera) bred for resistance to varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Specifically, determine the comparative need for acaricide treatment and honey production of Russian honey bees and SMR honey bees developed by USDA-ARS, and a commercial stock of bees produced in Alabama.

Approach:
For each of the three test stocks of bees, determine 1) interval between necessary acaricide treatments (by coupling seasonal varroa population growth with recommended treatment thresholds for the southeastern United States), 2) honey production and 3) other general apicultural characteristics when bees are managed in several beekeeping operations in three regions of Alabama.

Project Team

Danka, Robert - Bob Kenneth Ward - Assistant Prof. Of Plant And Soil Science 225-767-9294

Related National Programs

Plant, Microbial & Insect Genetic Res., Genomics, & Genetic Improv. I (301)   Crop Production (305)