A new pesticide developed by scientists has the potential to eradicate a major threat to British honeybees, the varroa mite. The mite, introduced to the UK in 1992, feeds on bees’ blood, transmits viruses, and decreases fertility, leading to reduced honey yields and significant financial losses.
Currently, beekeepers use chemical treatments to control the pest, but these methods can harm bees, their larvae, and delicate hives. Experts at the University of Tennessee have developed a personalized RNA pesticide that targets specific species without damaging others.
The pesticide works by interrupting a gene’s instructions, preventing a signal from getting through. By targeting an essential gene for survival, experts can control the varroa mite population without harming other animals.
A new commercially available pesticide based on this technique is already being used to control the Colorado potato beetle and is now being considered for approval to help honeybees. The innovative approach involves recruiting adult bees to pass on a sugar fluid with the pesticide to larvae, which then carries it to their blood. When the mites feed, the pesticide targets one of their genes.
This breakthrough has significant potential to save British honeybees from extinction and mitigate financial losses caused by varroa mite infestations.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14403589/Threat-British-honeybees-eradicated-scientific-breakthrough.html