Protecting bees from climate change and varroa mites

A recent ABC news story has reported on a project to map bee activity and gain a better understanding of the habitat and food sources needed for their continued survival. The South Australian government and the University of Adelaide have both contributed $300,000 each to the program.

"We want to prevent bees dying in the future, so we have to plant bee food so that bees can be maintained locally," said University of Adelaide research associate Dr Katja Hogendorn.

The parasitic varroa mite has been deadly to many bee populations around the world and proves a very big threat to industry if it was to happen in Australia.

"We have to act now to prevent loss of crop-pollinating species," said University of Adelaide Plant Conservation Biology Chairman Professor Andrew Lowe.

Read the full article.

Image credit: Elena Longo/flickr