The varroa mite is a parasitic pest that causes devastation in beehives, attacking bee larvae and sucking their blood for the rest of their lives. This insect has become a major threat to British honeybees, costing the domestic beekeeping industry £27million a year. Current pesticides have proven ineffective at controlling the mite due to their inability to target specific genes.
Scientists in the US have developed a new generation of RNA-based pesticides that can specifically target the varroa mite’s genes without harming bees. These pesticides can be applied as a spray or fed to bees, and they work by interrupting the protein-making process in the mites’ cells. This approach has shown promise, with early data suggesting it could soon provide beekeepers with a new tool to combat the varroa mite.
The pesticide is being developed by GreenLight Biosciences and has already been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency for use against the Colorado potato beetle. However, the approval process for the varroa mite is more complex due to the relationship between the mite and bees.
To overcome this challenge, the RNA pesticide is administered to bees in sugary food pouches, allowing it to target the mites as they feed on bee blood. While early results are promising, there are concerns that the pests could develop resistance to the new approach. Dr Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes notes that “it’s not a matter of if, but when” this will happen, highlighting the urgent need for effective solutions to protect honeybees.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/16/rna-weapon-help-british-honeybees-fight-varroa-mite