A recent study has revealed a remarkable discovery that may help save bees from a deadly parasite. Scientists have found that a particular type of bacteria found in the gut of bees is capable of killing the parasite Varroa destructor, which is responsible for the decline of bee populations in many parts of the world. The findings could potentially lead to new methods of controlling the parasite and protecting bees from this threat. The research team was able to identify a bacterial strain called Serratia plymuthica, which is naturally present in the gut of bees. This strain was found to produce a compound that is toxic to Varroa destructor, but not to bees. The findings provide hope that this bacteria could be used to protect bees from the parasite, and may even be used to develop new treatments for Varroa infestations.

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source: Phys.org