“Mighty” mites threaten to bring honey bees to their knees

Two AgBioResearch entomologists are studying how varroa mites, which deform or kill young honey bees, develop resistance to a class of pesticides commonly used to control them. Varroa mites are devastating pests that pose a serious threat to honey bees and agriculture worldwide, including Michigan’s fruit and vegetable crops that depend on honey bee pollination. If left untreated, varroa mites can kill honey bee colonies within one to two years.