Genetic selection is the work of deciding which colonies to breed from. It is the essence of breeding; everything else is the execution of that decision.

Heredity and environment

Every observed trait comes from two sources: genetics and environment.

A colony making good honey may owe it to good genetics or to a good location. Selection requires separating the two.

There is only one way to do that: keep the colonies under the same conditions.

Some traits are easier to select

Traits differ in how strongly they are inherited.

• Behavioural traits — temperament, hygienic behaviour — respond relatively quickly to selection
• Yield is heavily affected by environment; progress is slower

Starting with behavioural traits therefore gives faster results.

Two difficulties specific to honey bees

• Multiple mating: A queen mates with many drones, so a colony contains several paternal lines
• The unit assessed is the colony: Traits are observed at colony level, not in individual bees

This complicates selection, but it also gives the colony genetic diversity and resilience.

Inbreeding

Breeding continuously from your own line in a closed population raises inbreeding.

The concrete sign is a patchy brood pattern: under close inbreeding some eggs fail to develop and are removed.

Bringing in outside stock at intervals prevents it.

Selection intensity

The fewer colonies you breed from, the faster the progress — and the greater the inbreeding risk.

A balance is needed: breed from the best few, but do not tie yourself to a single line.

Realistic progress

Breeding is slow work and results appear years later. But progress is cumulative: what is gained in each generation is kept.

Rearing from the best and replacing the worst makes a marked difference within a few years.