OHB Golden West Queens

Since 2001, Randy Oliver and his sons of Golden West Bees have operated 1,500 migratory hives without synthetic miticides. In 2017, they identified a colony that maintained zero varroa counts without treatment, launching a focused, performance-based selective breeding program.
Each year, they requeen all hives using daughters from their most mite-tolerant colonies. By 2023, over 50% of colonies in some apiaries maintained mite levels below 2% for the entire season, without miticide treatments, even under heavy mite pressure.
Selection is based strictly on performance:
 
Gentle temperament
Strong colony health
Above-average honey production
Proven almond pollination strength
 
No cosmetic selection, genetic diversity is maintained.
Through collaboration and isolated mating yards, we now offer open-mated Oliver queens paired with Oliver-selected drones to support this ongoing breeding effort.
Mite tolerance is not yet genetically fixed, and no absolute “mite-resistant” claims are made. Current results suggest roughly a 50% chance of producing a highly tolerant colony, with improvement expected each season. Even partially tolerant colonies typically require fewer treatments.
This is practical, field-tested stock built on years of disciplined selection, moving beekeeping toward reduced chemical reliance and stronger, healthier colonies.