RNAi and Varroa Mites: A New Technology for Managing an Old Pest of Honey Bees - O'Neal

Описание: Dr. Matthew O’Neal and Jarod Perez from Iowa State University discuss how specific RNA can be applied to a pest that interferes with specific traits when applied to a target organism, a technology referred to as RNAi. There is the potential for RNAi to deliver species-specific pest management tools. A new product is now available to beekeepers that uses RNAi to target Varroa mites within honey bee colonies.

Speaker provided reference links:
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“Varroa Mite Life Cycle and Reproduction”. Carl Hayden Bee Research Center. 2021. USDA Agriculural Research Service, https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west...
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“Viruses and vectors tied to honey bee colony losses”. Lamas et al. 2026. PLoS Pathogens. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat....
“Formic Pro” NOD Global. https://nodglobal.com/wp-content/uplo...
“Oxalic Acid Options for Controlling Varroa destructor”. Price et al. 2025. Washington State University Extension, https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/produc...
“Oxalic Acid for the Control of Varroa Mites”. Tarpy and Keller. 2025. NC State Extension, https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/oxalic-a...
“Apiguard: Varroa Control”. Vita Bee Health. https://www.vitaeurope.com/beehealth/...
“Norroa” Greenlight Biosciences. https://cdn.prod.website files.com/6744d18bdb6f409ee05138c3/68e7b770a7b2988b7a536444_20250828_Consumer-box-booklet-V6_Specimen%20label.pdf
Lamas ZS, Rinkevich F, Garavito A, Shaulis A, Boncristiani D, Hill E, et al. (2026) Viruses and vectors tied to honey bee colony losses. PLoS Pathog 22(2): e1013939. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat....
Maya-Maldonado, K., A. Celestino-Montes, and V. Cardoso-Jamie. 2025. RNAi-Based Bioinsecticides for Controlling Vector-Borne Diseases. 16, 1276. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16111276