Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) The natural way to control mites
Pure VSH Breeder Queens Under a USDA Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)
These queens are purebred VSH, instrumentally inseminated
with pure VSH drones. Each queen is marked with a numbered disk and
has one wing clipped.
2010 Breeder Queen Prices
Instrumentally Inseminated Breeder queens.........$100.00
each
Limited Supply
Free shipping
Shipping - Queens are sent
via UPS Next Day Air. Add $45.00 shipping per shipment. Queens are shipped
in 3 hole candy introduction cages with attendant bees. A push-in cage is
included for each queen. JZs BZs plastic cages are available upon request.
Please send your street address as UPS does not send to Post Office Boxes.
All queens are instrumentally inseminated and
marked with a numbered disk. Also one half of one forewing is carefully clipped .
International queen color code:
Intn'l queen color code
2009 = Green
2010 = Blue
2011 = White
2012 = Yellow
2013 = Red
2010 = Blue
What is VSH? Sources of naturally mated VSH
queens
How to observe the VSH trait
for yourself
VSH Links
The Latest VSH Research
VSH Users
Distribution of pure VSH breeder queens 2001-2008 View Larger Map & List by zip code More VSH Maps
Queen Producers
who sell naturally mated VSH queens:
Bz Bee Pollination - P.O. Box 699, Esparto, CA 95627 (530) 787-3044
Bjorn Apiaries - (717) 938-0444 - Pennsylvania email: MIKEANDIDA@cs.com
Carney Queens and Honey Farm LLC, (434)292-4428 VSH and Hygienic Italian queens and queen cells, pick-up only. info@carneyqueens.com
D & J Apiaries - 13828 Yale Hammock Road, Umatilla, FL 32784, (352)
669-3498
Lamb's Honey Farm - RRT3 Box N. 592, Jasper, TX 75951, (409) 384-6754
Lucas Apiaries - (805) 914-4053 - Southern California - VSH - Hygienic - Russian - Cordovan - Carniolan - Queens and Nucs
Miska Honey Farms 13404 Honeycomb Road, Groveland, FL 34736, (352) 429-3447
email: miksahf@aol.com Queen cells
- shipped by UPS
Olympic Wilderness Apiary - (866) 204 -3426 toll free - Washington,
Queens only June to October
Powell Apiaries - 4140 County Road K K, Orland CA 95963, (530) 865-3346
VP Queen Bees - 8100 Overlook CT, Frederick, MD 21702 (301) 662-4844 email: info@vpqueenbees.com
WG Bee Farm - Frank & Linda Wyatt - (336) 635-5821 - North Carolina
- email: wytgrp@embarqmail.com
Zia Queenbee Co - Mark Spitzig & Melanie Kirby - 505-689-1287 - New Mexico - email: ziaqueenbees@hotmail.com
USDA ARS scientists Dr. John Harbo and Dr. Jeffrey Harris
at the Honey
Bee Breeding Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana , have defined and
tested a trait of the honeybee which appeared to suppress mite reproduction
(SMR). Recently it has been better defined as "varroa sensitive hygiene
(VSH)." This is a form of behavior where adult bees remove pupae that
have reproductive mites but do not disturb pupae that have mites that produce
no progeny.
Recent research done under real world beekeeping conditions with Alabama beekeepers clearly show the value of VSH bees. The resistance to Varroa mites was significantly better than all other bees in the study without sacrificing honey production. These bees have proven their value to American beekeepers. The time has come for you to take advantage of this remarkable line of bees.
Dr. Harbo and Dr. Harris proved the effectiveness of the
VSH trait by exchanging queens between resistant and susceptible colonies.
Each time a resistant queen was put into a susceptible colony, the mite
population went down. On the other hand, every time a susceptible queen
was placed in the resistant colonies, the mite population increased.
Recent studies by Dr. Spivak and Dr. Harbo have shown that
the SMR trait might be best described as a "varroa-sensitive hygienic
behavior". VSH bees remove mites that have started to reproduce.
The reproduction of mites triggers their removal by the bees. The only mites
left in the cells are non reproductive or sterile. So there is evidence for
selective removal of reproductive mites from brood cells.
A goal of the USDA SMR Project is to distribute the VSH
trait for resistance to Varroa mites to queen breeders around the country.
The object is to cross these bees with beekeeper's own well adapted stock.
This will maintain the genetic diversity of American bees while enhancing
this important trait. Once in the hives of beekeepers, further selection
and improvement can be made for honey production, other disease resistance
mechanisms, and other beneficial traits. Recent tests have shown that VSH
queens retain an acceptable level of mite resistance when they are free
mated to unselected drones.
The best way to get the maximum amount of the trait into
a line of bees is to begin with a pure VSH breeder queen so her daughters
mate with your local drones. Workers from pure VSH queens have a hyper-hygienic
behavior where their workers remove more brood than is necessary or desirable.
This will show up as a deterioration of the breeder's brood pattern after
about six weeks. The regular addition of frames of sealed brood from other
colonies will keep the colony strong. Daughters queens of pure VSH breeders
who are out crossed by natural mating have good brood production and an
acceptable level of mite resistance.
The VSH trait has proven to be extremely effective
at controlling Varroa. It holds great promise as a permanent solution, but
the work is not yet finished. There is still considerable variation in crosses
with different lines of bees, and so should still be thought of as as a
work in progress.With the recent retirement of Dr. Harbo from the bee lab, Dr. Bob Danka , Dr. Jeffrey Harris and others at the USDA Baton Rouge Bee Lab are carrying on the work.
Learn more about
SMR / VSH
Simplified methods of evaluating colonies for levels of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) 2009 Journal of Apicultural Research
Comparative Performance of Two Mite-Resistant Stocks of Honey Bees in Alabama Beekeeping Operations 2008 J. of Economic Entomology
THE VSH TRAIT EXPLAINED BY HYGIENIC BEHAVIOR OF ADULT BEES
Cleaning House-and Hive - A special line of bees uses the
power of hygiene to fend off its worst foe
Special
Line of Bees "Sniffs Out" Its Worst Enemy
SMR-This Honey of a Trait Protects Bees From Deadly Mites - ARS
The Relationship of Between Suppression of Mite Reproduction (SMR)
and Hygienic Behavior , Ibrahim, A. and Spivak,
M. American Bee Journal, May 2004
The SMR Trait Explained by Hygienic Behavior of Adult Bees
The Number of Genes Involved in the SMR Trait - American Bee Journal 145(5):430
An Evaluation of Commercially-Produced Queens That Have the SMR
Trait - ABJ 143:213-216
"Varroa Resistance of Hybrid ARS Russian Honey Bees"
Breeding Honey Bees that Suppress Mite Reproduction
Natural and Suppressed Reproduction of Varroa , Bee Culture, May 2001
SMR Queens : an Update - Bee Culture,
May 2002
Further Reference about VSH bees
How were VSH bees developed?
Dr. Harbo and Dr. Harris have methodically worked on selecting
bees for Varroa resistance since 1995. They first had to develop techniques
for measuring populations of bees and mites and for measuring characteristics
that are associated with resistance. Then they identified specific traits
that are related to the growth of mite populations. These traits were analyzed
statistically to determine the degree of heritability they had. The trait
for suppressed mite reproduction SMR, now called VSH, was shown to be the most promising,
so they began a selective breeding program to enhance it. Read about the
VSH Project at the USDA ARS Honey
Bee Breeding, Genetics & Physiology Laboratory website.
Where did VSH bees come from?
VSH bees were originally selected from diverse domestic
honeybee colonies in Louisiana and Michigan that showed some degree of mite
resistance . They are all American bees.
What's special about these bees?
Recent studies by Dr. Spivak and Dr. Harbo have shown that
the VSH trait might be best described as a "varroa sensitive hygienic
behavior". VSH bees remove mites that have started to reproduce.
The reproduction of mites triggers their removal by the bees. The only mites
left in the cells are non reproductive or sterile. So there is evidence that
bees with the VSH trait selectively remove reproductive mites from brood
cells.
Are VSH bees related to the USDA Russian bees?
No. Though coming out of the same USDA ARS research laboratory
as the Russians, they are not related. VSH bees are not imported, they
originated from domestic American colonies.
What is the VSH project?
A goal of the USDA ARS VSH Project is to distribute
this mite resistance trait to queen breeders around the country. The object
is to cross these bees with beekeeper's own well adapted stock, thus maintaining
the genetic diversity of American bees while introducing this important
trait. Once in the hives of beekeepers, further selection and improvement
can be made for honey production, other disease resistance mechanisms, and
other traits..
Are the genes for suppressed mite reproduction dominant
or recessive?
The VSH trait is thought to be controlled by more than
one gene, just how many is uncertain at this point. These genes are neither
dominant nor recessive. They are what is called "additive" which
simply means that the more of them that are present, the more strongly the trait
will be expressed. This works in favor of beekeepers since a queen with
VSH genes can mate to any drones and still have the trait expressed
in her colony enough to reduce the mite population. So naturally mated queens
produced from pure VSH breeders are mite resistant.
Who should buy pure VSH breeder queens?
Pure VSH breeder queens should be used for queen rearing
purposes. The best way to get the maximum amount of the trait into a line
of bees is to begin with a pure VSH breeder queen so her daughters mate
with your local drones. Daughter queens of pure VSH breeders
who are out crossed by natural mating have good brood production and an
acceptable level of mite resistance. The naturally mated daughters of these
breeder queens should be used for production hives. Naturally mated queens
containing 50% of the VSH trait can be purchased from various queen producers .
How do you know VSH bees are mite resistant?
In a recent published study Dr. Harris and Dr. Harbo proved
the effectiveness of the VSH trait by exchanging queens between resistant
and susceptible colonies. Each time a resistant queen was put into a susceptible
colony, the mite population went down. On the other hand, every time a susceptible
queen was placed in the resistant colonies, the mite population increased.
In another study by Dr. Marla Spivak at the University
of Minnesota, bees of several strains were compared. The VSH colonies
showed the highest degree of mite resistance, and also had good honey production.
What is the difference between VSH and SMR bees?
This line was originally called SMR for Suppressed Mite Reproduction because that was the apparent cause of the resistance to varroa mites. However after further research, it was learned that the real cause was a type of hygienic behavior that was sensitive to the presence of reproductive varroa mites. With this clarification of the mode of resistance, SMR was renamed VSH for Varroa Sensitive Hygiene to be more accurate. bee
Further reading on VSH bees :
If there is one good thing about varroa mites, it is that
they are large enough to see fairly easily. With a magnifying glass, a flashlight,
and a little time to look, the VSH trait can be observed in any stock
of bees.
The USDA maintains a web site on Varroa
mite reproduction which has an excellent display of pictures and descriptions
of mites, both reproductive and non-reproductive. Your time will be well
repaid by studying this site before you begin your own observations.
Materials needed:
2x-4x Magnification - visor magnifying
glass works well or low power stereo microscope is best. Lighting - a bright handheld penlight Forceps or tweezers - fine enough
to uncap and pull out pupae Record sheet - a simple tally of
reproductive and non-reproductive mites. Brood comb containing mites - from
colonies not recently treated with miticides. Time to look - allow at least an
hour per comb
What to look for:
1. Uncap purple eyed pupae with tan body color .
2. Remove and inspect pupae for white fecal deposit- bright white
powder .
3. Check pupae for varroa mites. They may colored brown or white depending on age.
4. Check cell wall for white fecal deposit, usually on
the upper cell wall .
5. Check cell interior for mites .
6. Identify the reddish brown mother mite .
7. Identify lighter or smaller offspring mites .
8. Inspect 20 infested cells containing a single mother
mite .
9. Record number of reproducing and non-reproducing mites .
10. Compare colonies to select the best breeders .
Glenn Apiaries 
