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ViewAttendees 7

Student 10-Minute Paper

Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

Student Competition

Student

Grad Competition PBT: Apiculture

(1st Place) RNAi as a control method for the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor

Monday, November 6, 2023
9:24 AM – 9:36 AM ET
Location: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor 11
In-Person Student Competition

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Rose Ann McGruddy

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

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Phil J. Lester

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

  • JH

    John Haywood

    Senior Lecturer in Statistics
    Victoria University of Wellington
    Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

  • JM

    Jim Masucci

    Research Scientist
    GreenLight Biosciences
    Ballwin, Missouri

  • Brian Manley, Ph.D.

    Director, Product Development
    GreenLight BioSciences
    Wake Forest, North Carolina

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor has become an increasingly problematic issue and is now estimated to be the leading cause of honey bee colony loss in New Zealand. Varroa control methods currently rely on synthetic or organic miticides. These miticides vary in efficacy and can have negative impacts. We have been investigating gene silencing or RNA interference (RNAi) as a potential next-generation control method for pests like Varroa using a product from GreenLight Biosciences, Inc. which has been given the common name vadescana for the active ingredient. In laboratory settings, our research has demonstrated vadescana's effectiveness in preventing Varroa reproduction. We have since progressed to field trials to compare vadescana's effectiveness in mite control. The field trials demonstrated that vadescana has the capacity to reduce mite levels to subeconomic thresholds, although additional work is needed to determine how application rates will need to vary with hive size and mite abundance. This study underscores the potential of RNAi as a species-specific mite management alternative.