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2013 Autumn | Natural Science & Restoration

Hygienic Honeybee Behavior

Student(s):

Theodora Teodosiadis

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Evan Sugden

Partner(s):

  • University of Washington

Faculty advisor(s):

Evan Sugden, Department of Biology, University of Washington

Research has shown that hygienic honeybee behavior addresses several issues that are contributing to honeybee population decline. During my project, I compared the hygienic behavior, or the ability for bees to detect and remove dead brood from the hive, of six strains of honeybees at the University of Washington. The purpose was to determine if hygienic behavior performance varied amongst the strains. Results showed that there was a difference in hygienic behavior. This information can be incorporated into local bee breeding programs in order to better equip honeybees to survive against today’s parasites and pathogens.