USDA funding Mite-biting bees, aka Purdue leg chewers! November 17 2016
GREAT NEWS FOR THE BEES! We have been funded for another year of field research from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Department. Here is the project title and description:
Pennsylvania queen bee program and Heartland Honey Bee Breeders Cooperative: Mite-biting behavior and overwintering success
Research from the North Central SARE region has identified a genetic trait that triggers varroa mite biting behavior in honeybees. The farmer will measure this novel behavior and its relationship to mite counts, winter survival, and colony weight, and the project will involve queen breeders, bee clubs, beekeepers in several states, two universities, and extension. The project will also incorporate observations of varroa-sensitive hygienic behavior, which is also a heritable trait. Outreach will include workshops, queen exchange events, and other beekeeper meetings.
If you want to help let us know!