Practical selection to breed bees with rapid development to enhance resistance to Varroa mites

Varroa jacobsoni has become a serious threat to beekeeping worldwide. Only a few countries remain free of the Varroa mite. Infestation of colonies wit h Varroa causes significant economic losses to beekeepers through weakened or dead colonies and the cost of treatments. The recent development of resi stance of mites to fluvalinate (e.g,, Apistan(R)) has endangered our honey bees once again. This situation demands immediate action by both bee resear chers and commercial queen producers.