Recapping and mite removal behaviour in Cuba: home to the world’s largest population of Varroa-resistant European honeybees

Abstract

The Varroa destructor ectoparasitic mite spread globally and in conjunction with Deformed Wing Virus killed millions of honeybees (Apis mellifera) colonies. Forcing Northern hemisphere beekeepers into using miticides to avoid mass colony losses. However, in many Southern hemisphere countries widespread treatment did not occur since miticides where prohibitively expensive or a centralised choice was made not to treat, both allowing natural selection to act. This Varroa caused initial high losses before mite-resistant appeared in the honeybee populations. Initially, mite-resistance was only associated with African and Africanised honeybees. Although recently, several isolated mite-resistant European honeybee populations have appeared. Here we studied the mite-resistance in Cuba and found high rates (77%) of recapping of infested worker cells, high removal of mites (80%) and corresponding low mite fertility (r=.77). These are all traits found in all naturally evolved Varroa-resistant populations. We can confirm Cuba has the world’s largest European mite-resistant population with 220,000 colonies that have been treatment-free for over two decades. Cuban honeybees are also highly productive, 40-70 kg of honey produced annually, and are mild mannered. Cuba has many queen rearing stations and is excellently positioned to export Varroa resistant European queens throughout the region and beyond.