Geographical Distribution and Selection of European Honey Bees Resistant to Varroa destructor.

ABSTRACT: Developing resistance to the varroa mite in honey bees is a major goal for apicultural science and practice, the development of selection strategies and the availability of resistant stock. Here we present an extended literature review and survey of resistant populations and selection programs in the EU and elsewhere, including expert interviews. We illustrate the practical experiences of scientists, beekeepers, and breeders in search of resistant bees. We describe numerous resistant populations surviving without acaricide treatments, most of which developed under natural infestation pressure. Their common characteristics: reduced brood development; limited mite population growth; and low mite reproduction, may cause conflict with the interests of commercial beekeeping. Since environmental

SUBMITTER: Le Conte Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7764010 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature