Honeybees play an indispensable role in our food production, not only providing honey but also pollinating a diverse array of crops. They are essential for sustaining agriculture and maintaining the overall health of our ecosystems. Unfortunately, Canadian beekeepers experienced a significant decline during the winter of 2023, losing about ~35%, or ~282,700, of honeybee colonies¹. In BC, ~25% of all honeybee colonies were lost.

One of the gravest threats is the Varroa destructor mite. This parasite feeds on bees throughout their life stages, compromising their health and increasing their vulnerability to diseases and environmental challenges. Beekeepers traditionally use miticides like amitraz to control mite populations and reduce bee mortality. However, growing resistance to amitraz in multiple countries means alternatives are urgently needed.

Dr. Erika Plettner from Simon Fraser University (SFU) has discovered a new compound, 3c{3,6}, that is effective against parasitic mites. This discovery offers a much-needed alternative for managing Varroa mite infestations and improving bee health. However, before the new compound can be widely used, it must be shown exactly how it kills mites, that it is effective in real-world situations and that it is safe for bees and humans. These must be demonstrated across multiple mite populations for regulatory approval. Additionally, it is crucial to show that the new compound does not operate through the same mechanism as amitraz, thereby decreasing the chance of the mites developing resistance. 

Previously, the team confirmed that the compound’s mode of action – how it kills mites – differs from that of amitraz, offering hope that this agent is a viable alternative for managing Varroa mites. In this project, SFU is partnering with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the BC Honey Producers Association, the University of British Columbia and VetoPharma to evaluate the effectiveness, efficacy and safety of 3c{3,6} at molecular, cellular and organismal levels across three mite populations. They will conduct field trials in British Columbia, Alberta and France to compare the efficacy and effectiveness of 3c{3,6} in comparison to amitraz. Furthermore, they will use proteomics and metabolomics approaches to develop new biomarkers to detect if the mites are becoming resistant to amitraz, as current attempts to develop biomarkers for this resistance using traditional methods have been unsuccessful.

¹Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists Statement on Colony Losses in Canada (2024) https://capabees.com/shared/CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses-2023-2024_FV.pdf