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A Sustainable Approach to Controlling Honey Bee Diseases and Varroa Mites

Introduction

Breeding for Resistance

Testing Honey Bee Colonies for Hygienic Behavior

Breeding for Hygienic Behavior

Frequently Asked Questions

SARE Research Synopsis

References

About the Authors


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Agricultural Innovations   Practical Applications for Sustainable Agriculture - Fact Sheet

A Sustainable Approach to Controlling Honey Bee Diseases and Varroa Mites

References
1. Spivak M, Reuter GS (2001a) Resistance to American foulbrood disease by honey bee colonies, Apis mellifera, bred for hygienic behavior. Apidologie 32: 555-565.

2. Spivak M (1996) Honey bee hygienic behavior and defense against Varroa jacobsoni. Apidologie 27: 245-260.

3. Spivak M, Reuter GS (1998a) Performance of hygienic honey bee colonies in a commercial apiary. Apidologie 29: 285-296.

4. Spivak M, Reuter GS (2001b) Varroa jacobsoni infestation in untreated honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies selected for hygienic behavior. J. Econ. Entomol 94: 326-331.

5. Spivak M, Downey D (1998) Field assays for hygienic behavior in honey bees (Apidae: Hymenoptera). J. Econ. Entomol. 91: 64-70.

6. Spivak M, Reuter GS (1998b) Honey bee hygienic behavior. Amer. Bee J. 138: 283- 286.

7. Masterman R, Ross R, Mesce K, Spivak M (2001) Olfactory and behavioral response thresholds to odors of diseased brood differ between hygienic and non-hygienic honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) J. Comp Physiol. A 187: 441-452.

8. Gramacho KP, Spivak M (2003) Differences in olfactory sensitivity and behavioral responses among honey bees bred for hygienic behavior. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 54: 472-479.

9. Spivak M, Masterman R, Ross R, Mesce KA (2003) Hygienic behavior in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) and the modulatory role of octopamine. J. Neurobiol. 55: 341-354.

10. Spivak M, Gilliam M (1998) Hygienic behaviour of honey bees and its application for control of brood diseases and varroa mites. Parts I and II: Hygienic behaviour and resistance to American foulbrood. Bee World 79:124-134; 165-182.

11. Lapidge K, Oldroyd B, Spivak M (2002) Seven suggestive quantitative trait loci influence hygienic behavior of honey bees. Naturwissenschaften 89: 565-568.

About the Authors
Marla Spivak and Gary Reuter
Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota

SARE Fact Sheet # 03AGI2005


 





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