The primary purpose of this agreement is to develop and validate detection tools to safeguard the health of honey bees in the U.S. From the threat of mites in the genus tropilaelaps

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded Auburn University a $115,872 cooperative agreement on July 1, 2026, to develop and validate detection tools for Tropilaelaps mites that threaten honey bee populations in the United States.

Auburn will assess the sensitivity and practicality of existing and novel detection methods for Tropilaelaps mites, including physical monitoring techniques and environmental DNA collection approaches. The work encompasses evaluation of pooled eDNA testing as a resource-efficient sample processing strategy and investigation of accumulation and degradation dynamics of Tropilaelaps-derived environmental DNA in hives to inform surveillance and management applications.

Deliverables include validated new detection methods for Tropilaelaps mites with potential applications for surveillance and management, and a publication describing the performance, sensitivity, and operational considerations of pooled eDNA testing approaches for Tropilaelaps surveillance. Auburn will also produce publications and presentations to stakeholders and agencies outlining detection methods for Tropilaelaps mites. The intended beneficiaries are beekeepers throughout the United States, apiary inspectors, farmers, and consumers relying on pollinator services and bee products, who will gain access to early-detection tools enabling rapid response to mite introduction.

Performance occurs in Alabama, with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. This award falls under the Cooperative Agreement assistance type.

Activities to be performed: this funding will be used to assess the sensitivity and practicality of existing and novel detection methods for tropilaelaps mites, including techniques based on physical monitoring and environmental DNA collection, evaluate pooled testing of edna samples as a viable strategy for resource-efficient sample processing, and investigate the accumulation and degradation dynamics of tropilaelaps-derived environmental DNA in hives to understand its AP plications. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the deliverables for this project will include validated new detection methods for tropilaelaps mites and their potential applications for surveillance and management, and a publication describing the performance, sensitivity and operational considerations of pooled edna testing approaches for tropilaelaps surveillance. Important outcome from this work will be publications and presentations to stakeholders and agencies outlining a set of methods for the detection of tropilaelaps mites. Intended beneficiary(IES): the main beneficiaries of this project will include beekeepers throughout the USA that will be at the frontlines of any tropilaelaps mite introduction and will greatly benefit from methods of early detection that will allow for more immediate responses. Such rapid response and accurate detection tools for beekeepers and apiary inspectors will translate into benefits to farmers and consumers that rely on pollinator services and consume BEE products.