Researchers have found “genetic holes” in the armor of the varroa mite, a parasite that is a leading culprit in the decimation of honeybees, that could lead to strategies for controlling or even eliminating the mite, reports Science Daily.
The study, by scientists at Michigan State University, “identified four genes critical for survival and two that directly affect reproduction.” The findings were published in the journal Insect Science. The mite has developed resistance to a number of pesticides, and controlling it may hinge on reducing its ability to reproduce — something this discovery could help with.
The mite, which sucks the blood of honeybees and transmits deadly viruses, is part of raft of problems for the honeybee — including pesticides, diet, and disease — that have led to colony losses as high as 45 percent annually over the past decade. The honeybee is a crucial pollinator for U.S. agriculture, and a lot of time and money have been invested in trying to solve these problems.
Zachary Huang, an entomologist at MSU, noted that the research could prove useful in controlling other pests, too. “Future research could help not only protect honeybees, but also reduce disease-carrying mosquitoes or crop-damaging pests,” he said.