Collect and study honey BEE pests from the genus tropilaelaps (tropi mites) to address gaps in our knowledge that prevent US from establishing effective emergency response plans to pest incursion in…

Collect and study honey BEE pests from the genus tropilaelaps (tropi mites) to address gaps in our knowledge that prevent US from establishing effective emergency response plans to pest incursion in the US. This work will help US determine how to better detect these non-native parasites and understand the impact they could have on honey BEE populations. Such work would also provide information integral prevention of future incursions. Data collected from this study will support multiple international research efforts to better understand the poorly studied tropi mites. For this award, samples of honey bees and their parasitic tropi mites will be collected abroad. These international sample collection trips will occur at 3 points during the fiscal year. Samples will be preserved and sent to the US for further analysis. Virus content of samples will be analyzed using appropriate analyses to determine identity and phylogenetic relationships. We will undertake full-length genome sequencing for viruses present. We will also sequence the genome of giant honey bees collected for this study. We will also work to actively develop a method of detection for tropi mites which can also potentially quantify how many mites are present. We expect to obtain at least 50 tropi mites from at least one of the four identified tropi mite species. Additionally, virus samples will be purified and DNA/RNA extractions performed for additional understanding of how the parasites affect the host virome. Full length sequences will be produced for the two giant honey BEE species. We will also deliver a new system for detecting tropi mites. Beekeepers will benefit substantially from this research as better knowledge of potential invasive threats protects their livelihood. In addition farmers stand to benefit as their livelihood is often directly linked to the health of pollinators. The supply of healthy colonies determines yield of their crops which further impacts the price of their produce when IT reaches market. As such, every american consumer and our agricultural export partners all benefit from this effort to protect honey BEE health. There will be no subawardees this year.