Hygienic behavior kills honey bees

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Honey bee sciences are always full of surprises. In beekeeping, it is hard to predict things. This new study shows that hygienic behavior, a common and normally desired trait in honey bee colonies, perhaps should be reevaluated as a beneficial trait. Varroa mites transmit viruses that can kill honey bees Apis mellifera. Bees can find dead and sick pupae and eliminate them from the hive, by hygienic behavior, however, they might get infected with deformed wing virus in the process becoming noa the potential virus vector. Is hygienic behavior a good thing for bees or not?
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[shanepasha]

These findings suggest that we are quite far from defeating Varroa. It makes you either give up apiculture, or, dive even deeper into it.
I will choose the latter.
Good episode Humberto, and thank you.

[mikerevendale]

I've been a beekeeper since the 1980's and have followed the work of the U.S.D.A. together with commercial beekeepers to breed a hygienic bee after the disastrous introduction of Varroa. After many years that work produced the "Hygienic Italians" that a few commercial queen breeders maintain today. I've been using queens of that line from a breeder in California for a decade. I never treat my hives with chemicals and I don't see Varroa mites on my bees. The infested pupae are removed from their cells and dumped off the landing board. And I've never witnessed deformed wing, foulbrood, or any other malady since changing solely to that hygienic line. As far as disease, my bee yard is healthier than before the introduction of mites when I kept the old style Italians. The only negative today is that I on average lose one hive out of five over the course of winter; and in the old days we might have lost one for every ten hives. I suspect that the Neonicotinoid pesticides are creating a great burden on our colonies. And research indicates the health of honeybee queens is badly affected by those pesticides.

[michaelshelnutt]

I would like to see a non- hygienic hive with the green pupae to see how the virus spreads by comparison. This will make the only variable being the hygienic behavior.

[aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Makes you think a bit. And a bit further…the act of catabolism is a natural behaviour of bees during times of sudden death. It’s a survival mechanism. After these times we will see disease express itself. Is it due to the stress itself or is it due to the act of super spreading of diseased bees?

There is an old saying “sometimes things get worst before they get better”,

[bradgoliphant]

This is very interesting and helpful. I have Hygienic. Yet, I don't see it as the problem here. I say that because my other hives that are not hygienic, and learning about bees knowing that even without Hygienic behavior in hives, bees still randomly uncap and pull out sick or dead bees. And they most always cannibalize them. Its a lot less, a lot, but is still happens. But I am open minded enough to take this into consideration and am grateful for this info.

[barbarakeating]

We have known for a few years that varroa mites are not “blood suckers”. They live on the fat of honey bees.

[rochrich]

With the information in the video the case the hygienic bees spread DWV BETTER than mites was not made. It only proved the virus spread in the absence of mites. Perhaps the case was made in the paper.

[dufourea]

I think the logic of this video is a little skewed. Varroa mites transfer viruses and parasites to bees when they're in the hive, including deformed wing virus. This happens whether or not pupal cannibalism is common or not. Workers handle dead or dying pupae regularly, even in hives not bred for hygienic behavior. The monograph you linked above does not compare "hygienic" strains to other germ-lines - in fact, their only conclusion is that handling of infected pupae, especially ingestion, contributes to virus spread within a hive. Since all honeybees will engage in some form of hygienic behavior, regardless of their ancestry - this video seems likely to generate a lot of paranoia, especially in new beekeepers.

Like N. apis and ceranae, DWV will always be present in your hive in some sense. The virus is in free variation in all North American populations. The only defense is proper nutrition and clean, well-maintained equipment to support your bees' natural immune function - regardless of whether your strain is "hygienic" or not.

[sierrabravo]

It's almost like every time you try to solve a bee problem or make beekeeping easier it creates more problems and the bees suffer

[goodguy]

I am a 10 year hobby beekeeper in the Northeast USA where we get extreme cold weather from the Arctic vortex sometimes. I lost a hive that way one year because the bee population was low going into winter for that hive. In the early spring I witnessed bees going into that hive from other hives, so I opened the hive to see what was going on. There were a few dozen capped cells that the robbing bees were opening and I witnessed these robber bees pulling dead pupa out and eating them. I had never seen that before and learned something new. I gave the other hives protein patties after seeing that. I did not have any virus problems in any other hives that season, but I am grateful for your information you divulged in this video. Obbligato sir.

[univercellsoft]

I have tried a test with varora mites infected colonies and got success 100% no varora mites in my hive. I'll make a video about that how to control and wipe varora mites, with a two easiest way.

[michaowepszczoy]

How harmful is DWV in adult bees? In one of the previous videos you've explained, that the bee's gut system is quite a strong barrier for the DWV. Those infected bees from the end of the chain (pupa -> cleaner -> other bee), can they then infect the larvae?

[vanderpoolfarmsl.l.c.]

Since the publication from Jay Evans, I've wondered if the queen breeders and producers should change their ads.
Instead of "We select for Hygienic Behavior", to "We select for enhanced horizontal viral transfer" .
Have beekeepers, scientists, and the industry made a big mistake promoting this selection process?
If so, WHO will finally stand up and make the big announcement? Anyone?

[princenephron]

This is very interesting. I've had many colonies that were struggling along, so, I treated for mites (multiple times). Yet, I would STILL find bees emerging a month later with DWV.

[cbbees]

Thank you Humberto! How many colonies do you typically manage?

We have 11-12 months of brood where I live so a Varroa wash is performed each month for each colony. Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby, and it helps that they have an endearing quality to them.

[nuruzzaman]

Wow! That's really something to think about. I just don't know what to do these days. The bees just seem to hate the treatments we use too and I feel sorry for them.

[pcelarskisokak]

Hygienic behavior could not be a problem in bees and I think that is wrong way of thinking about present situation in beekeping.

[mackenziemill]

Great video, very informative and interesting. I like the use of Broll and text Thanks Sandy

[kaistumer]

Bit still you didn’t adress the main question, how much infestation is spread during canibalisation vs a sick bee hatching.
Pretty sure that a sick bee will cause more infestation compared to being canibalizisation

[ToBeeOrNotToBeHoney]

I enjoyed the presentation and the pointers to this information. I am always trying to learn more about my bees.