Australia is Killing Millions Of Bees To Save Its Honey Industry

Tags: International News

Australian authorities have killed millions of bees over the past two weeks in an effort to stop a devastating parasitic plague called the Varroa mite.

• The parasite named Varroa mite has spread to the south-eastern part of the country. 

• Now because of this, the honey industry worth crores of rupees is under threat.

• In view of this, an alert was issued for the beekeepers.

• The decision to kill bees could adversely affect the development of many crops including almonds, macadamia nuts and blueberries that depend on bees for pollination.

• Bees are the most important pollinators. 

• What is Varroa Mite?

• It is a parasitic insect that infects and feeds on honeybees.

• It is often known as the varroa destructor.

• It is reddish-brown in color and is capable of destroying entire colonies of bees.

• This organism can spread five types of viruses in the hive which can destroy the entire colony of bees.

• After clinging to one bee, it reaches another and thus takes the entire hive under its control.