In partnership with Optera:
UBeeO™
Every colony you select shapes the future of your apiary. Choose genetics that work.
Data-Driven Colony Selection for Naturally Resilient Apiaries
The Challenge
Varroa mites, viruses, and disease pressure threaten bee colonies worldwide. Traditional breeding selection methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and often subjective. Beekeepers need a fast, reliable way to identify which colonies possess superior natural defenses, the genetic traits worth propagating to build healthier, more resilient apiaries.
The Solution
UBeeO™ is a breakthrough diagnostic tool that measures hygienic behavior, a colony's ability to detect and remove unhealthy brood before mites and diseases can spread. In just two hours, beekeepers gain objective data to guide breeding decisions, identify superior genetics, and build naturally disease-resistant apiaries.
How Hygienic Behavior Works
When brood becomes stressed by mites, viruses, or disease, it emits specific chemical signals—pheromones that healthy nurse bees can detect through the wax cappings. Colonies with strong hygienic behavior quickly identify these distress signals, uncap the affected cells, and remove the unhealthy brood, preventing the spread of pathogens throughout the hive.
This behavior is a heritable genetic trait. Colonies that excel at detecting and removing compromised brood demonstrate measurably lower mite counts, reduced viral loads, and greater resistance to chalkbrood and nosema.
UBeeO™ Products
UBeeO™ Testing Kit
The UBeeO Testing Kit Comes with everything you need to test up to 10 colonies including
UBeeO™ 5-test vial
The UBeeO 5-test vial contains enough UBeeO™ mix to prime the applicator and test up to 5 colonies.
UBeeO™ Cleaning Solution
A specially formulated rinse designed to clean and sanitise the UBeeO™ Applicator between uses
The UBeeO™ Technology
UBeeO™ contains lab-synthesized pheromones that precisely replicate the natural chemical signals emitted by unhealthy brood. When applied to a test patch of capped brood, these pheromones trigger the colony's hygienic response, allowing beekeepers to measure the speed and thoroughness of the removal behavior.
The Testing Process:
Baseline count: Mark and count capped brood cells in the test area
Application: Apply UBeeO™ using the precision applicator
Wait: Return after 2 hours
Measurement: Count uncapped cells to calculate the hygienic score
Scoring System:
Low (0-39%): May require additional mite monitoring and treatment
Medium (40-59%): Moderate hygienic response
High (60-100%): Superior disease resistance and ideal genetics for breeding
Research shows that high-scoring colonies consistently demonstrate lower mite populations, reduced viral loads, and better overall health, making them the foundation for sustainable apiary management.
Why UBeeO™ Matters
For Queen Breeders:
Identify superior breeder queens with measurable data
Verify daughter queen quality before sale
Build reputation for genetically resilient stock
Command premium prices for proven genetic
For Commercial Beekeepers:
Reduce treatment costs by selecting naturally resistant colonies
Improve overwintering success rates
Make objective requeening decisions
Scale up best-performing genetics across operations
For Hobbyist Beekeepers:
Know which colonies to propagate through splits
Build naturally healthy apiaries with less intervention
Reduce dependency on chemical treatments
Participate in meaningful bee breeding improvement
The Science Behind UBeeO™
UBeeO™ was developed by Dr. Kaira Wagoner through nearly a decade of research at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her doctoral work focused on honey bee chemical communication and hygienic behavior, identifying the precise pheromone compounds that trigger the removal response.
The technology represents a major advancement over traditional freeze-killed brood assays:
Faster results: 2 hours vs. 24 hours
Less colony disruption: Brood often recaps and develops normally
More precise: Synthetic pheromones provide consistent, repeatable testing
Field-practical: No liquid nitrogen required
High-scoring UBeeO™ colonies demonstrate:
Lower varroa mite populations
Reduced viral loads (especially deformed wing virus)
Lower chalkbrood incidence
Reduced nosema spore counts
Better overwintering survival
Integrated Apiary Management
UBeeO™ and ZincSmart™ Bees work synergistically for comprehensive colony health:
UBeeO™ identifies colonies with superior genetic resistance, the behavioral capacity to detect and remove threats before they spread.
ZincSmart™ Bees supports the immune function and stress resilience that allows those genetic traits to express fully, especially during critical periods like brood rearing, environmental stress, or pathogen pressure.
Together, they represent both selection (identifying the best genetics) and support (maintaining optimal immune function); a complete approach to building naturally healthy, productive apiaries in the post-antibiotic era.
European Access
Bebiotica serves as the European manufacturing and distribution partner for UBeeO™, ensuring beekeepers across the EU have rapid access to this breakthrough technology. Vials are produced to Optera's exact specifications in our EU facility, with the same quality standards that have made UBeeO™ trusted by beekeepers and researchers worldwide.
Any questions?
We love to hear from you and work with bee-enthusiasts all over the globe.
So reach out and let’s work together.