Dr Anderson identified the mites and the bees as the same species that are found in Papua New Guinea, which is probably from where these intruders came. Until recently it was thought that this was the same species of mite that has been killing bees all over the world. Not so, according to Dr Anderson. "The mite is not the problem in the Solomon Islands", says Dr Anderson. "This species of mite, Varroa jacobsoni, cannot reproduce on the European honeybee, so the population will never increase to the point where it will hurt the bees". This is good news for the Islands' beekeepers. However the die off of honeybees on Guadalcanal and Savo remains to be explained. Dr Anderson believes the answer to this mystery is the Asian honeybee, which has found a new home in the Solomon Islands. "This Asian honeybee, Apis cerana, is a tropical species that under these conditions is defensive, swarms and spreads quickly, and is better suited to the climate and flowers of the Solomon Islands than the European bee", explains Dr Anderson.

"It may be that the Asian honeybee is just out-competing the European honeybee on Guadalcanal and Savo".

Unfortunately the Asian honeybee is difficult for farmers to keep, because it is more defensive, swarms readily, and produces very little extra honey, and beekeepers are left wondering what to do.

Information

Varroa is a genus of mite that are parasites of honeybees. The natural host species of Varroa destructor (previously known as Varroa jacobsoni) is the Asian honeybee Apis cerana. Apis cerana has a natural defence mechanism to protect itself from Varroa destructor. However, when Varroa destructor transfers to colonies of the western honeybee Apis rnellifera, the colony will be killed. The mite species Varroa jacobsoni also occurs in Apis cerana, but does not survive when it is transferred to colonies of Apis mellifera.