The Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory is part of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The mission of USDA-ARS is to develop means to solve agricultural problems of broad scope and of high national priority. Through fundamental and applied research, ARS tries to ensure continuity of an adequate supply of high quality food and fiber products to meet the needs of the American people and to provide products for worldwide export.  Honey bees fill a unique position in contemporary U.S. agriculture. They pollinate more than 90 food, fiber and seed crops valued at $9 billion annually. In addition, the small but vigorous beekeeping industry produces honey, beeswax and other products for direct consumer use. Beekeeping also is a hobby for more than 100,000 people in the United States. Research at the USDA Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics & Physiology Laboratory seeks to minimize problems that challenge honey bee productivity, and to generally improve bee stocks for beekeepers. Breeding and genetic studies focus on long-term solutions for problems caused by the parasites Varroa jacobsoni (Varroa mites) and Acarapis woodi (tracheal mites). The principal aim is to devise solutions based on genetic resistance of bees to these mites. A research component involving DNA studies represents a long-term investment to problem solving with tremendous potential. The links on the left of the current page will take you to more in-depth information regarding our programs.  The "Publications" link takes you to a listing of Publications by year.  These list Technical Abstracts and Interpretive Summaries.  Additional links take you to more information on specific programs and the personnel and resources involved in them. The "Projects" link takes you to a directory of some "Web posters."  These are quick summaries of some of the work done over the last 5 years.  These pages include pictures and graphs. The "Reprint List" link takes you to a Reprint list of recent publications and links to PDF format files of those publications.