The Bee Disease Diagnostic Service—100 Years and Growing at the USDA Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland

摘要

The Bee Research Laboratory (BRL), the oldest of the Federal bee laboratories, is currently located at the USDA's Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Federal honey bee research in the Washington metropolitan area had its beginning in 1891 and, except for a short break in 1896-1897, has been continuous for more than a century. The first Division of Bee Culture Laboratory was located in Somerset, Maryland, presently a section of Chevy Chase, which borders Washington, DC. The Laboratory was relocated a number of times until 1939 when it was moved to its present location in Beltsville, Maryland. The mission of the BRL is to conduct research on the biology and control of honey bee parasites, diseases, and pests to ensure an adequatesupply of bees for pollination and honey production. Using biological, molecular, chemical and non-chemical approaches, scientists are working to develop new, cost-effective strategies for controlling parasitic mites like Varroa destructor, bacterial diseases like American foulbrood, and emergent pests like the small hive beetle and the gut parasite Nosema ceranae. Additional research focuses on virus transmission, and the impact of pests and pathogens on worker and queen longevity and colony survival. The BRL has been in the forefront of research dealing with colony collapse disorder -CCD.