A new study shows how bee keepers might be able to protect their apiaries against colony collapse disorder
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — With a little bit of housekeeping, honeybees may be able to fend off the worst effects of a parasitic mite believed to a major factor in the recent spread of colony collapse disorder.
The blood-sucking mites weaken larval and adult bees, leaving them with a reduced ability to fight off infections, which is a problem because bees don’t have strong immune systems to begin with.
New research published in BioMed Central’s open access journal Genome Biology finds that specific proteins, released by damaged larvae and in the antennae of adult honey bees, can drive hygienic behavior of the adults and promote the removal of infected larvae from the hive. (more…)
Filed under: biodiversity, Environment, Uncategorized | Tagged: Beekeeping, Colony collapse disorder, honey bees, University of British Columbia, Varroa destructor, Varroa mites | Leave a Comment »


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