Scientists launch fightback against mite that is wiping out our bees... by making it self-destruct

For 20 years it has ruthlessly attacked Britain's hives - wiping out millions of bees and bringing misery to honey producers. But now scientists have launched the fightback against the invasive, blood sucking varroa mite parasite - the world's biggest killer of bees. The bug drills a hole in the honey bee's back and drinks its blood while injecting viruses to suppress the bee's immune system leaving it vulnerable to disease. Attempts tried to wipe it out but they failed as it becomes increasingly resistant to chemicals. Now researchers have developed a new technique that turns off genes in the pest's DNA, forcing the bugs to self-destruct. Although the treatment is still experimental, it could eventually kill the mites without harming bees within years...more