High School Student Seeks Solutions To Combat Varroa Mites On Bees

varroamite

Varroa mites, like the mite on this bee’s back, are causing the largest problems in bee health, scientists say.

The mass bee die-off known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon being studied by scientists worldwide, and now students like Sarah Marino are helping out with their own theories.

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The 17-year-old Valhalla, N.Y., high school student is conducting an experiment that aims to find a plant-derived solution to varroa mites at the Stone Barns Center For Food & Agriculture.

Marino began the first phase of her experiment last year, as a sophomore at Westlake High School. She met with Stone Barns beekeeper Dan Carr to discuss possibilities for her research project.

“The research Sarah proposed was original and useful to the greater beekeeping community,” Carr says. “We need top-notch students like Sarah to fall in love with bees early, so they will continue to research pollinator problems.”

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Read about Marino’s findings, what her next project will be and her plans for college at the Stone Barns Center’s website.

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