New methods to protect honey bees from Varroa destructor mites. The most destructive pest of the honey bee is the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. This pest arrived in Australia in 2022 and eradicati

Description

New methods to protect honey bees from Varroa destructor mites. The most destructive pest of the honey bee is the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. This pest arrived in Australia in 2022 and eradication efforts failed in September 2023. We must now manage this pest if Australia’s honey bee industries are to survive. The aim of this project is to develop a new chemical free mite control method. In collaboration with two beekeeping companies this project will exploit a specific sensitivity of the mite to heat to create a heat based control method for commercial hives. The outcome will be a new robust method for mite control to enhance bee hive health and management. This will benefit sustainable apiculture in Australia which is vital for both pollination of food crops and honey production.. Scheme: Early Career Industry Fellowships. Field: 3003 - Animal Production. Lead: Dr Théotime Colin