Canadian beekeepers are hoping Russian honeybee queens will help them combat varroa and tracheal mites while curbing the use of chemical controls.
Efforts to assess and multiply the Russian queens in Canada began four years ago with the import of eggs and semen from the United States under permit.
Some commercial beekeepers this year had bees with the Russian influence that they were able to sell to other beekeepers. They found demand for that stock was well beyond what they could supply.
“There are quite a few beekeepers anxious to get the material,” said John Pedersen, a beekeeper from Cut Knife, Sask., in an interview this summer.
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The Russian honeybee queens have resistance to varroa and tracheal mites, two of the most common problems facing beekeepers. The degree of resistance is still being examined in Canada.
Most of the bees Pedersen sold to other producers this year had bloodlines that were half Russian. They are described as the first hybrid generation.
Pedersen and his family hope to produce pure Russian stock next year. Pure stock and the first hybrid generation are known to exhibit good tolerance to varroa mites. The tolerance diminishes as the Russian influence is diluted.
Pedersen said he is satisfied with the bees’ temperament and honey production.
Medhat Nasr oversaw research on the first Canadian imports of eggs and semen from Russian queens in 1999. The work was done on behalf of the Ontario Beekeepers Association.
Nasr, who is now provincial apiculturist in Alberta, said the Russian stock does not provide total resistance to the mites. That means the threat of mites won’t be eliminated, but could be tempered to the point that producers could use miticides less often.
Chemicals are the main option for controlling the parasitic mites, but the pests are developing resistance in many parts of North America. As well, Nasr said too much chemical use could taint the image of Canadian honey and jeopardize export markets.
