How Honey Bees Fight Back Against Deadly Varroa Mites — With a Little Help

They may be tiny, but varroa mites can destroy entire colonies of honey bees within weeks. The Varroa destructor mite poses a massive threat to honey bees, beekeepers, and agricultural sectors that rely on bees for pollination worldwide. Australia lost its title as the last continent free of varroa in June 2022, when mites were detected in a hive at the Port of Newcastle. Since that initial detection, the mite has spread rapidly across the country.