APIS MELLIFERA CAUCASICA
F. Benton International Beekeeping Association unite beekeepers from different countries with aim to research Gray Mountain Caucasian honey bee and encourage beekeepers to breed and repopulate their hives with pure breed lines to improve the colonies health, to increase pollination quality and overall productivity.
Global Alert: Rapid Spread of the Tropilaelaps Mite Demands Immediate Action
We represent active members of an international group focused on the problem of Tropilaelaps, specifically researching the causative mite of this disease, Tropilaelaps, its biological characteristics, its distribution area in Eurasia, and working on the development of effective diagnostic and control methods. It is noteworthy that three leading experts of this influential international group are members of our association. The group members represent South Korea, Israel, Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia and other countries.
Furthermore, a local group of highly qualified professionals has been formed by us in Georgia, which unites:
- Specialists with practical experience in pest control.
- Qualified bee veterinarians.
- Experienced active beekeepers with many years of experience.
- Doctors and researchers of agrarian sciences.
The members of this group, including doctors of science, possess in-depth experience in the following areas:
- Research and identification of microbiological agents for controlling agricultural and forest pests.
- Studying and implementing the theoretical and practical aspects of biological control and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
- Processing and quality control of beekeeping products.
- Bee diseases and preventive measures.
- Conducting laboratory research and experiments.
- Cybernetic management of bee colonies: optimization of health and productivity.
This multidisciplinary team, which combines knowledge and practical experience accumulated at both international and local levels, is ready to utilize its competence in the development and implementation of effective and sustainable strategies to combat Tropilaelaps.
May 22-26, 2024
The F. Benton International Beekeeping Association organized a seminar on queen bee artificial insemination and the identification and registration of beehives. Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the seminar was held within the framework of the National Animal Identification-Registration and Traceability System (NAITS) of the National Food Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia.
The seminar was led by professors Jacob Wegener (Germany), Irakli Janashia, and FAO project manager in Georgia Mr Mikheil Sokhadze. Representatives from the LEPL Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture of Georgia and the Mukhuri State Breeding Facility also participated in the seminar: Senior Specialist Nana Maisuradze and invited beekeeping specialist Mate Jolokhavia. The presentation part of the seminar was held at the Guria Plaza hotel. The practical lessons were held at Givi Ninidze's apiary in the village of Vakijvari. The following topics were discussed at the seminar: Identification and registration of apiaries in the NAITS system - FAO project manager Mikheil Sokhadze. Modern breeding methods, problems, and trends - Prof. Irakli Janashia. Theory of breeding and the structure of the artificial insemination process in beekeeping - Prof. Jacob Wegener (theoretical and practical lessons).
The participants were awarded with certificates acknowledging their successful participation in the seminar.
Tropilaelaps spp of Honey Bees: Biology, Distribution, Control Methods
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SEMINAR
10 April, 2025
The webinar "Tropilaelaps spp of Honey Bees: Biology, Distribution, Control Methods" brought together researchers from South Korea, Israel, Russia, Kazakhstan and Georgia to discuss the emerging honeybee disease, Tropilaelaps. The event covered the biology of the disease, its distribution in Eurasia, diagnostic challenges, and control strategies.
Key highlights:
- South Korea: Frunze Olga (Researcher at Incheon National University, Insect Research Center, PhD in Biology) presented insights on Tropilaelaps spp. in South Korea.
- Israel: Soroker Victoria (Researcher at the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center Rishon LeZion, PhD) examined the expanding range of the mite Tropilaelaps spp.
- Russia: Brandorf Anna (Chief Researcher, FSBSI FANTS. Doctor of Agricultural Sciences) discussed distribution issues and diagnostic challenges, while Stolbova Victoria (Junior Researcher at the Bee Disease Laboratory of the All-Russian Research Institute of Veterinary Entomology and Arachnology) shared data from Western Siberian apiaries.
- Kazakhstan: Nuralieva Ulzhan (Senior Researcher, Kazakh Research Institute of Livestock Breeding and Feed Production) highlighted regional threats to honeybee populations.
- Georgia: Nino Kipiani (National Food Agency of Georgia, bee diseases veterinarian, and a member of the advisory board of the F. Benton International Beekeepers Association) Overview of the situation regarding the spread of Tropilaelaps mites in Georgia
- Georgia: Leri Markarov, Co-Founder of F. Benton International Beekeeping Association. Doctor of Medicine, Georgia
The webinar also featured an evaluation of treatment options like the formic acid. This event underscored international collaboration to address the threats posed by Tropilaelaps and safeguard pollinator health.
GEORGIA, CAUCASUS
Georgian flora is extremely diverse and rich. Located between the forests of northern Eurasia and the tropical deserts of Asia, and incorporating Europe's highest mountains and a subtropical coastline, it has a high level of biodiversity. (Read more)
CAUCASIAN BEE RACE
Apis mellifera caucasica - a very interesting honey bee race with great potential, has enjoyed worldwide fame starting from the beginning of XX c. industrial era. (Read more)
Frank Benton
(July 5, 1852 – February 28, 1919)
Frank Benton in Caucasus,
Georgia, 1905 (Source: National Geographic)
Frank Benton
Frank Benton (July 5, 1852 – February 28, 1919) was an prominent American entomologist, researcher, beekeeping innovator and author. Benton studied at Michigan Agricultural College, University of Tennessee, the University of Munich, and the University of Athens. He was a member of various organizations: Bureau of Entomology in the United States Department of Agriculture, Entomological Society of Washington, North American Beekeepers Association, National Geographic Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is also known for invention of special mailing cage for shipping queen bees (Benton Cage).
At the dawn of industrial farming, many countries faced sometimes formidable challenge of increasing agricultural productivity by naturally stimulating the plants that had been declared a priority for national farming and the agriculture industry. Numerous attempts to enhance the efficiency of local beekeeping farms did not lead to tangible results. It was then that a program arose for the US Department of Agriculture for the introduction of best suitable bee breeds capable of providing the farming with the most important biological functionality - pollination.
For this aim Benton traveled to many countries from Europe to Palestine and Far East. In 1905 Benton visited Georgia to further investigate the Caucasian honeybees which were already known to US beekeepers from 1890.
Here is what K. A. Gorbachev writes about this visit ("Beekeeping Life", No. 2, 1907, p. 45): “A famous American beekeeper visited us in the Caucasus. The purpose of his visit is to get acquainted with the Caucasian bee... Benton is delighted with the Caucasian bees and predicts the most brilliant future... There is another huge advantage for the Caucasian bees: their tongue is longer than that of the bees of Central Europe”.
Benton greatly supported the import of Caucasian (Georgian) Mountain Grey honey bees to the United States. It was only after Benton had been placed in charge of bee culture in the United States Department of Agriculture and made his second trip abroad, that Caucasian bees became well known in the USA.
Based on a list of breeding facilities published by the US Department of Agriculture in 1943 (Bulletin E 297) there were 43 Mountain Grey breeding apiaries in the United States, including the first in Iowa, accounting for approximately 25% of all queens produced in the USA.
The merit of Benton, who opened the export of the Caucasian Bee to Western countries, is great.
During his research of big bees (Apis dorsata) in India Benton contracted "jungle fever". Benton died at Fort Myers, February 28, 1919.
Aims and Objectives
RESEARCH
Biology of Caucasian honey bees; studies of the behavior of queen bees, drones and working bees, features of various races; causes of death of families, problems of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
POLLINATION
Values for pollination; Impact on agroindustry. Pollination of legumes, clover, lucerne and other deep blossom plants.
SELECTION
Genetic foundations and prospects of selection and breeding, biometry and morphology, organization of (AI) instrumental insemination of queen bees, breeding of purebreed lines.
BEE BREEDING
Organization of breeding, family appraisal, improvement of breeds, purebred breeding, provision of methodological and practical assistance to breeders, certification.
DECEASES & PATHOLOGIES
Research and implementation into practice of beekeeping an organic (bio) methods and means of combating bee pathologies and diseases, parasites and their pests.
FEEDING
The study of substitutes, the development and implementation of artificial food, inverts, the study and implementation of organic stimulating nutrition with proteins, minerals and vitamins.
PLANTS & NECTAR SOURCES
The study of honey resources of various climatic zones and recommendations for their proper use, recommendations for creating a reliable honey base, the creation of “honey conveyors”.
BEEEKEEPING PRODUCTS
Research of honey, pollen, bee bread, propolis, royal jelly, etc. Beekeeping product quality control technologies.
BIO TECHNOLOGIES
Legal, technological and economic basis for the production of organic beekeeping products. Requirements for maintenance, feeding and treatment of honey bees in the production of organic beekeeping products.
FAMOUS SCIENTISTS WHO MADE AN INVALUABLE
CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY & POPULARIZATION OF CAUCASIAN BEES
GEORGIA - THE PEARL OF CAUCASUS
Conservation International designated Georgia as one of its 25 global "biodiversity hotspots" because of the area's exceptional number of endemic species which comprise about 9% of Georgia's flora, a surprisingly high proportion for so small country.
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