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A European honey bee with
a Varroa mite on its back. The mites cause disease and death
in bee colonies.
Photo by Scott Bauer. |
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Geographic Range: Relevant to beekeepers
throughout the U.S. and Canada
Introduction
An estimated one-third of the human diet is derived directly or
indirectly from insect pollinated plants. Honey bees are the world's
most important insect pollinator of fruit and vegetable crops, home
gardens and wildflowers. The number of bee colonies and beekeepers
is steadily declining due to the inadvertent introduction of the
parasitic mite Varroa destructor into the U.S. in 1987. Left untreated,
varroa mites kill most bee colonies within one to two years.
To control the mite, beekeepers have been using pesticides (pyrethroids
and organophosphates) in their bee colonies. However, that approach
has generated problems, including the mites developing resistance,
the enormous operating expense of purchasing and spraying pesticides
in honey bee colonies and risks of contaminating honey and beeswax
with residue.
Our goal is to breed honey bees, Apis mellifera, resistant to diseases
and parasitic mites to reduce the amount of antibiotics and pesticides
used in bee colonies and to ensure that our breeding methods and
stock are accessible to beekeepers everywhere. A reduction in pesticide
use by beekeepers will enhance environmental quality and economic
viability of individual beekeeping operations; strengthen an agricultural
system (beekeeping) based on small and moderate-scale owner-operated
farms; protect human health and safety by preventing the risk of
contaminating honey and hive products; and promote the well-being
of honey bees -- our honey producers and vital pollinators.
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