【科研】拯救蜜蜂，拯救地球 Saving honey bees, saving the planet

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知道吗，蜜蜂越来越少了！

这是很危险的！如果置之不理，人类很可能会面临危机！没有蜜蜂，很多水果蔬菜庄稼就会受影响，想想就很可怕有没有~~

快来看看西浦生物系科研团队的最新发现。

瓦螨

全球的蜜蜂数量正在减少，其中的主要原因是一种叫做“瓦螨”的寄生性节肢动物（主页君就不配图了，）。

这种螨虫附在蜜蜂幼虫身上，吸食蜜蜂幼虫的体液并传播病毒。如果不进行有效治疗，瓦螨能够在两年内摧毁一整个蜂群。

植物性杀螨剂

养蜂人一直以来使用化学合成杀虫剂来杀死这些螨虫，但也造成瓦螨的抗药性不断增强。

Kadowaki博士和同事们的研究成果发表在《细胞报告》（Cell Report）上，该成果在使用植物性杀螨剂抑制瓦螨定位并寄宿在蜜蜂幼虫方面非常有效。

下一步，Kadowaki博士和科研团队将会研发针对大型养蜂场更加高效的施药方式。

关于该研究的更多详情，请点击“阅读原文”。

Researchers identify potential solution to major cause of honey bee death

As honey bee populations worldwide face continued threat, a team of researchers led by Dr Tatsuhiko Kadowaki in our Department of Biological Sciences has identified a potential solution to a major cause of honey bee death.

A major threat to honey bee is the Varroa destructor mite that attach themselves to bee larvae, sucking the blood-like plasma from their bodies and transmitting viruses. If left untreated, these mites can destroy an entire colony of bees in two years.

Beekeepers had been using synthetic miticides to kill the mites, but the mites build up resistance over time. The findings of Dr Kadowaki and colleagues show promising results of plant-based miticides that render mites unable to locate and attach themselves to the bee larvae.

The disappearance of the honey bee would have far greater implications than just honey production – many common fruits and vegetables depend on the honey bee for pollination, and the demise of the honey bee would be disastrous for our nutrition and the global economy.

Read full article visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn