major honey bee stressors: Varroa mites, tracheal mites, and cold temperatures
[99]. Specifically, Russian honey bees have been found to be about one-third to
one-half more resistant to mite infection than the European honey bee, and mite
infestation is a major variable in Colony Collapse Disorder [100].
They exhibit much higher hygienic behavior in opposition to parasitic mites.
Experts reported that Russian bees are more aggressive in grooming themselves and
each other, biting and removing mites and infected brood from the hive. Russian
honey bees are not actually immune to Varroa mites but instead have developed a
resistance via behavior adaptation after 150 years of exposure in Russia.
Durable overwintering is one of the Russian honey bee’s strongest traits, a
product of the strain’s originating cold, northern climate. After five winters in
northeast Iowa, entomologists observed that Russian bees are less likely than
European bees to lose members to cold weather [99].
Russian queens shut down earlier, and the worker bee population drops to winter
levels sooner than their European counterparts. In the overwintering months,
Russian bees are frugal in their consumption of stored food compared to other
managed bee strains, and their hives have plenty of leftover winter food stores by
the time spring begins [101].
Importing or hybridizing with Russian honey bees has the primary advantage of
developing mite resistance in locally managed honey bees, while the bees’ honey
production abilities were shown to be sufficient. Moreover, the bees’ temperament is
reported to be rather docile. A number of beekeepers have shifted to Russian or
Russian-hybridized honey bees for their pollination and honey-producing capacities.
Initial reports of honey production were conservative, where quantities were below
European counterparts, but current estimates place their honey-producing capacity
as in line with or more than European honey bees.
In one example, a US breeder in the late 1990s reported that after a harsh winter,
1200–1400 of his European bee stock perished, while only two out of 2000 Russianbred colonies did not survive. The breeder also reported average honey yields of
approximately 60–68 kg per hive, well above the usual 38 kilograms [71].
The US Department of Agriculture’s research agency is continuing their Russian
bee breeding program, where this strain of honey bee has a particular advantage
versus European honey bees in more northern climates.
5.2 Farmer: Habitat Diversity
There are a number of actions that farmers can take to improve foraging conditions
for honey bees and wild pollinators. It is important to note that habitat conservation
to enhance nectar and pollen forage for wild bees would benefit managed honey
bees, but the opposite may not be true [65].
Those in the agricultural industry can help mitigate effects of bloom
de-synchronization, monoculture limitations, and poor diet by local planting practices. By improving landscape conditions for both wild and managed pollinators,
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
35
[99]. Specifically, Russian honey bees have been found to be about one-third to
one-half more resistant to mite infection than the European honey bee, and mite
infestation is a major variable in Colony Collapse Disorder [100].
They exhibit much higher hygienic behavior in opposition to parasitic mites.
Experts reported that Russian bees are more aggressive in grooming themselves and
each other, biting and removing mites and infected brood from the hive. Russian
honey bees are not actually immune to Varroa mites but instead have developed a
resistance via behavior adaptation after 150 years of exposure in Russia.
Durable overwintering is one of the Russian honey bee’s strongest traits, a
product of the strain’s originating cold, northern climate. After five winters in
northeast Iowa, entomologists observed that Russian bees are less likely than
European bees to lose members to cold weather [99].
Russian queens shut down earlier, and the worker bee population drops to winter
levels sooner than their European counterparts. In the overwintering months,
Russian bees are frugal in their consumption of stored food compared to other
managed bee strains, and their hives have plenty of leftover winter food stores by
the time spring begins [101].
Importing or hybridizing with Russian honey bees has the primary advantage of
developing mite resistance in locally managed honey bees, while the bees’ honey
production abilities were shown to be sufficient. Moreover, the bees’ temperament is
reported to be rather docile. A number of beekeepers have shifted to Russian or
Russian-hybridized honey bees for their pollination and honey-producing capacities.
Initial reports of honey production were conservative, where quantities were below
European counterparts, but current estimates place their honey-producing capacity
as in line with or more than European honey bees.
In one example, a US breeder in the late 1990s reported that after a harsh winter,
1200–1400 of his European bee stock perished, while only two out of 2000 Russianbred colonies did not survive. The breeder also reported average honey yields of
approximately 60–68 kg per hive, well above the usual 38 kilograms [71].
The US Department of Agriculture’s research agency is continuing their Russian
bee breeding program, where this strain of honey bee has a particular advantage
versus European honey bees in more northern climates.
5.2 Farmer: Habitat Diversity
There are a number of actions that farmers can take to improve foraging conditions
for honey bees and wild pollinators. It is important to note that habitat conservation
to enhance nectar and pollen forage for wild bees would benefit managed honey
bees, but the opposite may not be true [65].
Those in the agricultural industry can help mitigate effects of bloom
de-synchronization, monoculture limitations, and poor diet by local planting practices. By improving landscape conditions for both wild and managed pollinators,
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
35