Local honey bees (Apis mellifera) have lower pathogen loads and higher productivity compared to non-local transplanted bees in North America

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are currently facing increased colony losses due to various environmental and pathogen-related factors. Recent studies have suggested that both colony survivability and productivity may be connected to environmental adaptations between honey bees from various climates. However, variation in pathogen infection and colony productivity between honey bees from different regions is currently an area of ongoing research. Here, we tested the hypothesis that local queen bees from a Northeastern environment produce offspring that have increased productivity and lower pathogen loads when compared to non-local bees from a different climate. In a transplant experiment, colonies were requeened with local and non-local queen bees in the same apiary. We demonstrated that local colonies weighed significantly more and reared more brood than non-local colonies. In assessing parasite and pathogen loads between groups, levels of Israeli acute paralysis virus increased in non-local colonies, and Nosema spp. decreased in local colonies over time. We found no difference in levels of Varroa destructor, deformed wing virus, and black queen cell virus between groups. Our data may suggest that locally raised bees from the Northeast are more productive and are less susceptible to certain pathogens in native regions when compared to queens and worker bees from a different environment. These results have implications toward improving beekeeping management practices by maintaining healthy and productive local honey bee stocks.