What is VSH in Honey Bees?

VSH, or Varroa Sensitive Hygiene, is a trait in honeybees that enables a colony to survive without the need for mite controls. The VSH trait causes VSH hygienic behavior, which allows the bees to detect and remove mite-infested brood from the hive. This natural resistance to varroa mites is a valuable trait for beekeepers and can contribute to the overall health and survival of honeybee colonies. Read on to discover how VSH works and why you want it in your colonies.

VSH Behavior Explained

VSH behavior serves as a natural and physical check on the varroa mites’ ability to reproduce and expand their population inside of a beehive. The behavior is characterized by the honey bees' ability to detect and uncap mite infested pupae in the hive. 

The VSH behavior also includes the ability of the honey bees to remove the infested pupae from the hive, effectively reducing the number of varroa mites present. This behavior is an important defense mechanism for honey bee colonies in controlling the spread of varroa mites and protecting the overall health of the hive.

Aquiring VSH Bees

VSH is not a unique race of bee, rather it is a behavioral trait that can be bred into any stock. Several queen breeders in the United States have already begun the difficult process of breeding in the VSH trait to their existing stocks of honey bees. The breeder will usually advertise the availablity of the trait by adding it to the name of the stock line, for instance "VSH Italian" or "VSH Carniolan". You can acquire VSH bees by purchasing queens from breeders who have VSH stocks.

It is important to do your research and find a reputable breeder who has a good track record of breeding VSH honey bees. You can also join beekeeping associations or forums to get recommendations and connect with breeders who have VSH stocks. When purchasing VSH queens, make sure to inquire about the breeding methods and the health of the bees to ensure that you are getting quality VSH honey bees.

VSH for Mite Control

The presence of Varroa Mites can be devastating to honey bee colonies. The mites attach themselves to the bee's body and suck the hemolymph through the bee's exoskeleton. This weakens the bees immune system.

The mites are also a vector for numerous viruses which can infect the bee and spread in the colony. The most common virus associated with varroa mites is Deformed Wing Virus. As the name implies it causes the wings of the developing honey bee to become malformed rendering the infected be unable to fly.

The viruses transmitted by varroa mites can quickly spread through a colony by infecting the bees who cannibalize the pupae that have become hosts to the parasitic mites. This can ultimately result in collapse of the entire colony.

This is why a long-term solution to varroa mite control is crucial to the entire beekeeping industry. Many of the short-term solutions, such a chemical treatments have been shown to adversely affect the bees. Also, the varroa mites have been shown to develop resistance to these treatment sometimes in a matter of a few years.

The VSH behavior is seen as a long-term solution to protecting colonies from the devastating effects of varroa mite infestation. That's why many beekeepers are turning to VSH as a more sustainable and effective method for varroa mite control.

As described earlier, this method involves breeding bees that have a natural resistance to the mites and can detect and remove infested brood from the hive. By utilizing VSH, beekeepers can reduce their reliance on harmful chemical treatments and work towards a more healthy approach to beekeeping.

In conclusion, VSH is a natural trait in honey bees that allows them to detect and remove mite-infested brood cells, helping to control varroa mite populations without the need for chemical intervention. This approach not only benefits the health of the bees but also contributes to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable beekeeping practice.