New University of Alberta research could help in the fight against the honeybee's number one enemy - the Varroa mite. Also known as the Varroa destructor, the parasite is a major contributor to annual losses of 30 to 40 per cent of bee colonies in Canada.
Effective control of the mite relies on knowing when and what it is feeding on in the lifespan of the bee. Until five years ago it was common wisdom among beekeepers that the Varroa fed on the hemolymph or blood of the bee throughout its development.
