People in my home state believe in a high degree of politeness which we deem Minnesota Nice. Thus it should be no surprise that entomologist Marla Spivak, who runs the Bee Lab at the University, has developed a trait for bees that she calls Minnesota Hygienic. These bees have been bred to detect and remove damaging diseases and parasites from the hive, thus lessening the likelihood of colony collapses that have confounded keepers nationwide. Spivak’s work came to my attention in this recent Washington Post article featuring beekeepers in nearby Maryland who get $165 for queens whose offspring do not tolerate parasitic mites and, hopefully, this zombie fly.
This concern over keeping bees healthy is not shared by everyone. For example, see this horrifying report from Florida (where I happen to be at the moment). If you fear bees (apiphobia), do not watch the video.