Varroa defenses of honey bee races from Turkey

We evaluated defenses against Varroa in three honey bee races, Apis mellifera caucasica, A. m. carnica, and A. m. syriaca from Artvin, Kirklareli,and Hatay respectively. Detection of hygienic behavior was carried out by observing the removal rate of freeze-killed brood from the colonies at two different locations, at METU bee common garden and their hometowns. Bees from Kirklareli and Hatay are found more hygienic than Artvin when kept at METU in Ankara, however Artvin bees were much better in hygienic behaviour at their hometown. Dead brood removal rate measured as 28% in Ankara whereas 66% at original location for Artvin, for Kýrklareli the rates were 50% and 62%, higher value was at the hometown. Similarly we examined Varroa biting and grooming behaviors of these bees. These observations suggest that although there are genetic variation among the races, environmental conditions also affect the hygienic behaviour. A. m. caucasica bees are being more sensitive to changes in environment in this characteristic.