UBeeO™ | Hygienic Behaviour Test Kit

Strengthen colony-level defence against mites and disease with UBeeO™

UBeeO™ is a groundbreaking new tool designed to accurately predict a colony’s ability to self-manage mites and disease through hygienic behaviour – a vital aspect of colony health.

Hygienic behaviour is a heritable trait that beekeepers can selectively breed for. Colonies that are more hygienic are more sensitive to unhealthy brood pheromones, and thus more resistant to mites and disease. 

Optera’s UBeeO™ mix contains naturally occurring brood pheromones. To test a colony’s sensitivity, the UBeeO™ mix is applied to a small area of capped brood. The colony’s hygienic response to the treated brood cells after two hours indicates its ability to resist mites and disease throughout the season.