Adding Caucasian Jraits to the American Honey Bee Gene Pool Holds Potential to Improve Honey Bee Health

摘要

In July, Washington State University (WSU) honey bee genetics researchers Susan Cobey and Steve Sheppard traveled to the Republic of Georgia where they collected commercially significant quantities of Apis mellifera caucasica semen. Upon return to the United States, the Caucasian semen was rigorously tested for viruses. The WSU geneticists then inseminated virgin queens with the imported semen containing genetic traits that will improve the American honey bee gene pool, Cobey said.