How do RNAi-based Varroa treatments influence individual bee health?

Monday, November 11, 2024

8:36 AM – 8:48 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 222 A, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

JM

Joana Merk

PhD Student
Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

Co-Author(s)

MA

Maelle Anastasi

Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Rose Ann McGruddy

PhD student
Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Brian Manley, Ph.D.

Director, Regional Product Development, North America
GreenLight Biosciences, Inc.
Wake Forest, North Carolina
AF

Antoine Felden

Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Phil Lester, Ph.D. (he/him/his)

Professor of Biology
Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a novel approach for Varroa destructor mite control. In this study, we investigated a new dsRNA-based treatment on individual bee health, survival and foraging behavior. The dsRNA treatment was compared to an amitraz miticide strip treatment and to hives with no miticides. For automated tracking, bee hives were equipped with a radiofrequency identification (RFID) system and newly hatched bees were tagged with RFID chips. Mite counts throughout the trial were lowest for the RNAi treatment group. We found individual lifespan to be different for all three treatment groups, with adult bees reared from hives without miticides having the shortest survival times on average. Bees from hives treated with Amitraz had the highest survival rates, with RNAi treatments intermediate. Foraging behavior analysis showed bees from hives that received the dsRNA treatment were the most productive in terms of foraging effort, as on average they did the most trips and had the shortest trip lengths. This study shows the potential of RNAi technology as a highly targeted Varroa control tool with no negative impact on bee lifespan or foraging behavior.