Breeding Mite Resistance With UBeeO (Part II)

Thanks to Dr. David Peck of Betterbee, Cory Stevens of Stevens Bee Co, and Phoebe Snyder of Optera for talking with me about the changing environment of breeding for mite resistance in beekeeping.
Where to find UBeeO - opterabees.com/
Cory's Queens - www.stevensbeeco.com/
Betterbee - www.betterbee.com/
Support the channel - purchase honey, a t-shirt, or donate through our website:
duckriverhoney.com/

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

that discussion was brilliant

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@dcsblessedbees]

Nathan one of the best parts about your interviews, you come up with great questions and dig right in. You have really helped me get a better understanding of these more advanced areas of beekeeping. Thanks very much Nathan.
I'd take light treatment any day...

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@gloriayoder5173]

Well done Nathan! Please keep doing what you’re doing, these interviews have a wealth of information.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Gloria!

[@benschmitt5619]

Probably the best discussion I've seen lately about mite resistance. Great job Nathan. Great perspective about Randy Oliver's program. A good program in it's own right but it could be enhanced but also it would not be prudent to hang your hive tool on UBO alone. Other mite resistance traits exist and they probably shouldn't be ignored.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Ben, agreed on breeding for multiple traits.

[@Zarealy]

I truly believe UbeeO really will be a game changer. As the results start flooding the community, it's going to really snowball. When VSH is present in most hives from hobbyist to commercial keeper, it will then inevitably be in the feral population, then our meetings can be less about varroa support groups. UbeeO really has the potential to spark that fire. I picked up my pre-order at the conference, I can't wait to start testing and selecting this year. Looking forward to more of your interviews.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Love your enthusiasm, thanks!

[@solivaguswayfarer]

Great conversation! Imagine ordering QA/QC breeder queens ☺️

[@DuckRiverHoney]

That’s the future!

[@davidpowers6036]

Great video Nathan! Good information to know!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@CooperBees]

Great conversation!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks 👍

[@reindeersbees]

Awesome video, Nathan, I learned so much!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@brianbennett4374]

Great video UBO is a really good start. Hopefully they can bring the cost down 😊

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Volume would do that.

[@howardperson6341]

Nice job! Thank you.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@brucesouthernsassapiaries8316]

Nathan, thanks for the great information as always!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@taylorboysoutdoors]

Good Convo, looking foward to where this could help me/us 😅

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Lots of possibilities.

[@marywickenheiser2628]

I’d buy a shirt that says “UBeeO - Leaves No Place To Hide” 😊

[@DuckRiverHoney]

😆

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Thanks for posting this discussion Nathan.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@russellkoopman3004]

Cory's UBO virgin queens will influence bees in the US. I like using virgins more than using UBO mated queens.
Here is why: It is not wise to lose genetic diversity. The corn industry many years back used a specific trait of male sterility in seed production. This saved growers many tens of thousands of dollars not having to detassel the female inbreds. But this set of trait carried a few other traits and one was the susceptibility to a plant disease and it devastated the US corn crop. We must be careful in our selection pressure.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Absolutely Russell.

[@williambates6811]

Does it matter what traits/behavior the bees are using to control mites as long as they control mites? Randy system is result based not selected test driven selection. It will be interesting if his percentage of mite resistant queens/bees increase from his isolated mating yard.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Curious what percentage of his resistant colonies are high VSH?

[@williambates6811]

@@DuckRiverHoney I agree it would be interesting to see the results of the different tests on Randy Oliver high resistance hives. The testing companies should reach out to Randy Oliver and come to some type of agreement to verify their test against his apiary mite count results. Varroa resistant bees would save bee keeping world millions of dollars a year in treatment cost yearly.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Not just treatment cost, lost productivity from sick or parasitized bees as well.

[@reindeersbees]

@@DuckRiverHoneyAs well as the time involved with alcohol washes and the time it takes to apply treatment.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Is there any documented honey harvest poundage coronation? One would think a measured grooming and chewing behavior should as important. Thinking less brood loss. What would be the plans to spread this behavior in the wild.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’m not aware of honey production research, except the Pol line that USDA has in Baton Rouge. If it becomes common in kept hives it’ll naturally be in the feral population as well.

[@jf7654]

Something I am interested in is how bees like this fair with different types of mites. Tropi isn't here and I hope it never comes here but it scares me.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Yep, it could be the next big bad.

[@daverowden-RowdyBeeFarms]

How does a person identify a non-breeding mite?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

No babies in the cell.

[@StickyStanHoney]

new goal- become the retired millionaire with time to test all day.

[@sbgmimedia]

Time for Cory to invest in a barrel smoker....

[@DuckRiverHoney]

😆