Can arachnids help combat Varroa mites?

Researchers have found that spider venom could potentially protect Australia's European honeybees from the Varroa destructor mite, which poses a significant threat to food security. Originally from Asia, Varroa mites began infesting Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) after their introduction to the region about a century ago. They spread globally, but were only detected in Australia in June 2022, near Newcastle. By September 2023, the Australian government announced that eradication was no longer feasible, shifting focus to managing the mite's spread and enhancing detection methods for beekeepers.