The Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation has granted Macquarie University a generous grant of $2.5 million supporting an ambitious five-year research project led by Dr Théotime Colin to combat the varroa mite, a critical threat to honeybee populations.

Our goal is to develop effective, non-chemical control methods that Australian beekeepers can use to manage this destructive parasite.

Early studies indicate that Australia may not yet have the most serious viruses spread by the mite in other parts of the world, giving us a critical window of opportunity to develop effective management techniques.