Queens and colonies of honey bees (A. mellifera) were bought from a local beekeeper and kept at the apiaries in the Stoneville Wildlife Management Area (33° 42′ N, 90° 91′ W, Mississippi, USA). Each test colony incorporated a young normal egg-laying queen and a working population of nine frames of comb with larvae, pupae, honey and pollen. Honey bee colonies were reared as previously described28 (link). Each hive was equipped with a bottom board oil trap (35 × 45 cm tray filled with vegetable oil) for monitoring and control of Varroa mite (Varroa destructor).
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