The purpose of apiary programs is to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases and pests of honey bees. This is accomplished through hive registration, surveys, inspections, sampling, and control of pests of honey bees. An Africanized Honey Bee detection program is in place in all deep water ports in the state and along the Louisiana-Texas border. Currently, oversight is being provided for the importation of Russian bees. The bees were brought onto a barrier island off the Louisiana coast, under quarantine, and released to the USDA,ARS bee breeding laboratory in Baton Rouge in February 1998.
Plans are to further test the bees for resistance to mites.