Project
Bijenhouden met Darwin tegen varroa
Honey bees are of great importance for the pollination of cultivated crops and natural vegetation. The varroa mite is the most important parasite that threatens the health of bee colonies.
Natural resistance of bee colonies to this mite may be the most elegant solution to combat the varroa mite. It is very important that Dutch beekeeping has access and guidance to the possibility of developing locally adapted varroa-resistant lines - so that control of varroa can become unnecessary. In addition, this project focuses on the conservation of genetic diversity of the honey bee. This is an important condition for future-proof beekeeping, where the benefits of the existing genetic biodiversity among honey bees are more appreciated and utilized. Output in 2024 and 2025 includes giving lectures to beekeepers on natural selection of varroa tolerance and resistance, and guiding this in practice through workshops and facilitating several regional mating sites for bee colonies. This gives beekeepers insight into selection mechanisms, risks of bee parasites and the importance of genetic diversity for a future-proof beekeeping sector.
The knowledge developed provides building blocks that are relevant for new/other projects in the field of disease control, genetic biodiversity, beekeeping, ensuring future pollination services in the Netherlands.
Natural resistance of bee colonies to this mite may be the most elegant solution to combat the varroa mite. It is very important that Dutch beekeeping has access and guidance to the possibility of developing locally adapted varroa-resistant lines - so that control of varroa can become unnecessary. In addition, this project focuses on the conservation of genetic diversity of the honey bee. This is an important condition for future-proof beekeeping, where the benefits of the existing genetic biodiversity among honey bees are more appreciated and utilized. Output in 2024 and 2025 includes giving lectures to beekeepers on natural selection of varroa tolerance and resistance, and guiding this in practice through workshops and facilitating several regional mating sites for bee colonies. This gives beekeepers insight into selection mechanisms, risks of bee parasites and the importance of genetic diversity for a future-proof beekeeping sector.
The knowledge developed provides building blocks that are relevant for new/other projects in the field of disease control, genetic biodiversity, beekeeping, ensuring future pollination services in the Netherlands.