SETBie in Baden-Württemberg for Varroa-resistant honeybees

Varroa mite infestations threaten honeybee colonies, but Varroa-Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) behaviour enables colonies to detect and remove mite-infested brood cells. This project, led by SETBie in Baden-Württemberg, developed genetic markers linked to VSH through high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic, and methylomic analyses. Selected queen bees from Apis mellifera subspecies and Buckfast lines were artificially inseminated and tested in controlled infestations. Over 500 colonies were assessed, with half showing high mite levels, confirming VSH expression varies. The goal is to reduce chemical treatments by integrating VSH into breeding programs.