Florida student’s CO2 mite blower boosts honey and protects bees
A Florida high school student has developed a CO2-based 'mite blower' to treat Varroa destructor infestations in honey bee hives. This method offers a non-toxic alternative to synthetic miticides, potentially reducing chemical residues and improving bee health.
Why it matters
Addresses a major threat to global food security by providing a sustainable, chemical-free solution for protecting essential pollinators.
Honey bees are one of the most important insects across the globe. The buzzing bees do more than just make sweet nectar, they pollinate crops, maintain ecosystems and produce natural goods. According to the UN Environment Programme, they directly contribute to food security and a third of the world's food production depends on bees. However, bees and other pollinators such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds are increasingly under threat from human activities. Bee populations have been declining globally over recent decades due to habitat loss, intensive farming practices, changes in weather patterns and the excessive use of agrochemicals such as pesticides. This in turn poses a threat to a variety of plants critical to human well-being and livelihoods.This is a problem that Aakash Manaswi, a student at Lake Highland Preparatory School aimed to solve.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in