Investigating the biological mechanism underlying Varroa destructor mite resistance in a Swedish population of Honeybees (Apis melifera)
Mentor/s
Alyssa Woronik (Sacred Heart University) Amèlie Nöel (Swedish University of Agricultural Science) Xinyan Ruan (Swedish University of Agricultural Science) Barbara Locke Grandér (Swedish University of Agricultural Science)
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Pollinator species play an integral role in plant reproduction. Therefore, it is difficult to overstate the importance of pollinators for agricultural and ecological systems. Currently it is estimated that approximately 90% of flowering species, including crop species, rely on animal pollination. Overall, bees are the most dominant taxonomic group amongst pollinators, of which the honeybees are arguably the most important taxa. The ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is the largest threat to honeybee health and sustainability worldwide. The mites vector viruses to the colony and ultimately that develops into a lethal epidemic for the colony and causes collapse. There are currently two strategies for controlling mite populations within domestic honeybee colonies: chemical insecticides to remove mites and selective breeding for bee behaviors that infer a level of mite resistance to reduce mite infestation. Unfortunately, neither of these practices are sustainable as long-term solutions to the mite problem. However, globally there are several wild honeybee populations that have survived mite infestation for long periods of time without mite management. These populations may represent sustainable co-adaptation between mites and honeybees and investigating the host-parasite adaptations in these populations may lead to answers regarding how honeybees and mites can maintain a stable interaction. One such resistant population was identified on the Swedish Island of Gotland. In this work we aim to investigate the biological mechanism responsible for this resistance.
College and Major available
Biology
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Investigating the biological mechanism underlying Varroa destructor mite resistance in a Swedish population of Honeybees (Apis melifera)
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Pollinator species play an integral role in plant reproduction. Therefore, it is difficult to overstate the importance of pollinators for agricultural and ecological systems. Currently it is estimated that approximately 90% of flowering species, including crop species, rely on animal pollination. Overall, bees are the most dominant taxonomic group amongst pollinators, of which the honeybees are arguably the most important taxa. The ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is the largest threat to honeybee health and sustainability worldwide. The mites vector viruses to the colony and ultimately that develops into a lethal epidemic for the colony and causes collapse. There are currently two strategies for controlling mite populations within domestic honeybee colonies: chemical insecticides to remove mites and selective breeding for bee behaviors that infer a level of mite resistance to reduce mite infestation. Unfortunately, neither of these practices are sustainable as long-term solutions to the mite problem. However, globally there are several wild honeybee populations that have survived mite infestation for long periods of time without mite management. These populations may represent sustainable co-adaptation between mites and honeybees and investigating the host-parasite adaptations in these populations may lead to answers regarding how honeybees and mites can maintain a stable interaction. One such resistant population was identified on the Swedish Island of Gotland. In this work we aim to investigate the biological mechanism responsible for this resistance.
Students' Information
Benedetto Galluzzo, Neuroscience, 2026
Justin Hillis, Biology, Honors Student, 2026