Selecting for varroa resistance

In addition to looking after our bees to produce honey and beeswax, we are also working to improve the genetics of our locally adapted bees to promote their resistance to pests and diseases.

A frame of brood showing uncapping behaviour characteristic of varroa resistance. Hive debris including varroa mites

Data is collected and analysed to plot total mite fall and an average daily mite fall per hive.

Line chart showing the cumulative varroa drop from multiple hives demonstrating that many have low mite numbers consistent with varroa resistant traits.

Hives with consistently low mite drop rates, evidence of chewed out pupae and low cumulative mite totals are candidates for our queen breeding program.

Experience to date suggests that up to 80% of the daughters of our best queens have inherited at least some varroa resistance characteristics from their mothers.

An open source review that covers many of the principals that we follow in breeding varroa resistance is available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2026.05.015

A frame of queen cells hanging from a wooden hive frame - part of our queen rearing program.

Every week, we check all the hives at our breeding apiaries to count the number of fallen varroa mites and monitor for evidence of uncapping behaviours associated with varroa resistance.