Now Reading: Florida Student’s CO2 Device Cuts Varroa Mites Across 60 Bee Colonies
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Florida Student’s CO2 Device Cuts Varroa Mites Across 60 Bee Colonies
Florida Student’s CO2 Device Cuts Varroa Mites Across 60 Bee Colonies
A 17-year-old Florida student, Aakash Manaswi, has developed a carbon dioxide device to control Varroa destructor mites, a major threat to honeybee colonies. The Times of India reports that his 10-week trial…
The Story in Brief
A 17-year-old Florida student, Aakash Manaswi, has developed a carbon dioxide device to control Varroa destructor mites, a major threat to honeybee colonies. The Times of India reports that his 10-week trial covered 60 colonies and compared a 30% CO2 treatment with conventional miticides. The treatment reduced mites while maintaining adult bee survival, tissue integrity, immune cell abundance and colony productivity.
According to the report, CO2 performed as well as tau-fluvalinate and better than amitraz and coumaphos in the trial. It does not leave chemical residues in hive products or require protective equipment, and the treatment costs a fraction of pesticide-based options. Manaswi received a $10,000 Peggy Scripps Award and is pursuing a patent and peer-reviewed papers.
The Indian Opinion
Claims that one school project has solved the global bee crisis would be overstated. Varroa is one pressure among habitat loss, farming practices, weather changes and pesticides. Yet dismissing the device as a science-fair novelty would be just as lazy, given its 60-colony trial and reported honey gains. The real test is whether independent trials reproduce the results across seasons, climates and larger apiaries.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
