Failed Resistance Breeding in Honey Bees - First Year Problems

Описание: Three Midwest beekeepers compare treating vs. selecting for mite resistance, mite washes, Harbo assays, “vetted” stock wins/fails, and what to do next season to build survivor bees.

Beekeeping gets real when it stops being theory and becomes accountability.

In this episode of Bee Casting with James Lee’s Bees, I’m joined by Pat (Falling Rock Apiaries, WI) and Eric (Grand Rapids-area, MI) for a candid Midwest conversation about treating vs. selecting for mite resistance—and what it actually looks like when you try to build survivor stock.

We dig into the practical reality behind mite washes, Harbo assays, and “vetted” queens: why results can be inconsistent in year one, how mite pressure and timing affect scores, and why winter survival ultimately matters more than any single number. We also talk insulation and northern wintering, drone pool strategy, recordkeeping, and how to keep moving forward when the data is messy.

Core takeaway: Experimenting without monitoring is just gambling. If you want the rewards of selection, you have to measure outcomes, keep records, and make hard decisions season after season.

0:00 Treating vs selecting: higher risk, higher reward
0:22 What this episode is really about: accountability and results
1:00 Meet the guests (Pat + Eric) and where they keep bees
3:03 Pat’s background: Layens hives, insulated management, veterinarian mindset
6:26 “Beginner’s luck” hard reality check (winter losses and confidence)
8:28 Eric’s story: from hobby hives to scaling fast (and why)
11:24 Making beekeeping pay: splits, nucs, honey, and entrepreneurship
13:01 Learning sources: mentors vs YouTube vs SBGMI “advanced” info
19:45 Why northern context matters (climate, wintering, and applicability)
22:34 The turning point: monitoring, mite washes, and decision-making
27:08 Pat’s struggle: Harbo scores vs winter survival (what’s not adding up)
30:02 Harbo assay timing + low mite pressure problem (false confidence?)
34:15 What would actually help: grafting learning curve + mating yard plans
38:52 Eric’s Harbo frustration: “all zeros” even from good lines
45:01 Apiary scale + drone pool strategy (stacking odds over time)
49:04 How to stay the course when tests are imperfect (labor vs value)
52:35 Two mindsets: “data-driven” vs “survival-of-the-fittest” scaling
56:39 Insulation and wintering tactics (Layens, Hive 365, foam covers)
1:04:14 Extra diagnostics: virus/nosema lab testing to answer “why did they die?”
1:07:31 Skeptics vs reality: Harbo accuracy, inoculation frames, imperfect tools
1:11:33 Next season plans: thresholds, buying decisions, and what to select from
1:19:32 Purchasing strategy: local adaptation, survivor stock, and trusted sources
1:24:05 Advice to beginners: know your bees, monitor, and don’t treat blindly
1:27:01 Closing takeaway: experiment + measure + record-keeping = progress
1:31:00 Wrap-up and final thoughts on getting to “really good bees”

Topics covered: beekeeping, honey bees, queen rearing, bee breeding, honey bee genetics, varroa mites, hygienic bees, VSH bees, sustainable beekeeping, treatment free beekeeping, beekeeping education, honey bee resistance