Hygienic bees are those which rapidly remove dead brood, and are thought to be resistant to many important bee diseases. Non Hygienic bees fail to remove dead brood, and are thought to be particularly susceptible to brood diseases. This project proposes to identify genetic markers close to those genes which control hygienic behaviour. By this means, we hope develop markers that may be used diagnostically by queen breeders to identify hygienic stock. Photo: A colony affected by chalk brood

To do this, a cross between pure breeding hygienic and non-hygienic lines has been be produced, which was then backcrossed to the hygienic parent. Backcross colonies will be of a range of phenotypes. Genetic markers which are associated with hygienic behavioural morphs in the backcross will be field tested as candidate markers for hygienic behaviour. We hope to extend this project to map, and hopefully clone and characterise a number of behavioural genes in honey bees.

This project is in collaboration with Dr. Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota. The project is adequately funded by the honey industry, and supports Keryn Wilkes' Ph.D.