Varroa fungi foray

Scientists believe they have found a fungus that will combat varroa without harming bees. The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is also claimed to kill termites. The scientists from the US Agricultural Research Service Beneficial Insects Research Unit at Weslaco, Texas have been investigating the topic for several years and are now preparing to transfer the product to industry.

To test the fungus, the scientists coated plastic strips with dry fungal spores and placed them inside the hives. Since bees naturally attack anything entering their hives, they tried to chew the strips, thereby spreading the spores to the whole colony.