Story perspectives
Boosting Bee Colonies: Synthetic Pheromones and Mite Management
10/29/2025
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Story summary
- Researchers at the University of British Columbia study supersedure in honey bee colonies.
- Viral infections shrink the queen's ovaries and reduce her egg-laying and methyl oleate production.
- The methyl oleate pheromone signals the queen's fitness to workers.
- The team suggests supplementing colonies with synthetic methyl oleate to stabilize hives.
- They also stress managing varroa mite levels to prevent queen loss and protect colony health.
