Study suggests mutualistic symbiosis between parasitic mite and pathogenic virus responsible for bee colony loss
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - 11:01
in Biology & Nature
(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the University of Milan has found that there exists a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between parasitic mites and the pathogenic virus that is believed to be responsible for widespread honeybee colony loss. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes a three-pronged approach they used in studying the relationship between the mite (Varroa destructor), honey bees and the deformed wing virus which is believed to be responsible for widespread honeybee colony loss.