Science, Health & Safety |
July 15, 2025 |
Mites may be responsible for collapsing bee populations
July 15, 2025
Joanna Thompson writing in Science describes research on mite species decimating bee populations.
USDA researchers have identified* a likely culprit in the global devastation of bee populations. It's a mite, similar to those that live on most living things, ourselves included. As most of us know, bees are the great pollinators, responsible for a critical step in the reproduction of plant species including many upon which humans rely.
Luckily, we won't have to hear scary stories about the potential collapse of the food supply much longer from gub'mint scientists, as the USDA's science budget is being cut to the bone by the current administration, making it unlikely that effective countermeasures can be researched or implemented.
We asked Perplexity.ai, to evaluate this possibility.
Query: Now that the USDA knows that a single species of mite is a major factor in global bee die-offs, will the USDA be able to mount a defense given that its staff has been decimated?
Perplexity replied:
USDA’s Ability to Respond to Bee Die-Offs Amid Staff Cuts
The Mite Crisis and USDA’s Scientific Response
Recent USDA research has confirmed that Varroa destructor mites—now widely resistant to the primary miticide, amitraz—are the key drivers behind catastrophic honey bee die-offs in the United States. These mites spread deadly viruses, including Deformed Wing Virus and Acute Bee Paralysis Virus, leading to record losses in commercial bee colonies. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has rapidly identified these factors and is investigating new antiviral treatments and integrated pest management strategies, but acknowledges that effective field-ready solutions are still years away.
Impact of Staffing Reductions
However, the USDA’s ability to mount a robust defense is severely hampered by massive staff reductions:
Scale of Cuts: Over 15,000 USDA employees have exited due to budget cuts, reorganization, and legal challenges. The hardest-hit units are those that serve farmers directly, such as the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Disruption of Research and Support: The ARS, which leads bee research, has lost 10–50% of its workforce at different stations. This loss disrupts long-term research, slows the development of new treatments, and reduces the USDA’s capacity to support beekeepers and farmers.
Program Delays and Reduced Services: Farmers and beekeepers are already experiencing longer wait times and reduced access to critical programs, conservation support, and emergency assistance.
Prospects for Defense Against the Mite Threat
Scientific Capacity: Despite the staff losses, USDA scientists have managed to identify the main culprit behind the bee die-offs and are pursuing new solutions, such as antiviral agents and alternative mite controls.
Operational Constraints: The scale and speed of any coordinated national response are likely to be limited. The loss of experienced staff and institutional knowledge undermines the USDA’s ability to deliver programs, conduct field research, and support rapid deployment of new treatments.
Need for Additional Resources: Experts and industry leaders are calling for urgent action to rehire essential staff, restore research capacity, and accelerate the development and approval of new tools to manage mite resistance and viral threats.
Conclusion
While the USDA has demonstrated scientific agility in diagnosing the mite-driven crisis, its ability to mount a full-scale defense is significantly compromised by recent staff cuts. Without a rapid restoration of personnel and resources, the rollout of new solutions and support for beekeepers will likely fall short of what is needed to address the ongoing threat to global pollination and food security.
Comment: Although the loss of bees and possibly other insect pollinators will be catastrophic, there is a silver lining: The USDA cuts are being accompanied by cuts to the IRS, so there will be no tax collectors to bother your heirs while they attempt to cope with your remains and the stacks of unburied corpses littering the countryside, reminiscent of the plagues of the Middle Ages.
* Source:Bees & mites
Luckily, we won't have to hear scary stories about the potential collapse of the food supply much longer from gub'mint scientists, as the USDA's science budget is being cut to the bone by the current administration, making it unlikely that effective countermeasures can be researched or implemented.
We asked Perplexity.ai, to evaluate this possibility.
Query: Now that the USDA knows that a single species of mite is a major factor in global bee die-offs, will the USDA be able to mount a defense given that its staff has been decimated?
Perplexity replied:
USDA’s Ability to Respond to Bee Die-Offs Amid Staff Cuts
The Mite Crisis and USDA’s Scientific Response
Recent USDA research has confirmed that Varroa destructor mites—now widely resistant to the primary miticide, amitraz—are the key drivers behind catastrophic honey bee die-offs in the United States. These mites spread deadly viruses, including Deformed Wing Virus and Acute Bee Paralysis Virus, leading to record losses in commercial bee colonies. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has rapidly identified these factors and is investigating new antiviral treatments and integrated pest management strategies, but acknowledges that effective field-ready solutions are still years away.
Impact of Staffing Reductions
However, the USDA’s ability to mount a robust defense is severely hampered by massive staff reductions:
Scale of Cuts: Over 15,000 USDA employees have exited due to budget cuts, reorganization, and legal challenges. The hardest-hit units are those that serve farmers directly, such as the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Disruption of Research and Support: The ARS, which leads bee research, has lost 10–50% of its workforce at different stations. This loss disrupts long-term research, slows the development of new treatments, and reduces the USDA’s capacity to support beekeepers and farmers.
Program Delays and Reduced Services: Farmers and beekeepers are already experiencing longer wait times and reduced access to critical programs, conservation support, and emergency assistance.
Prospects for Defense Against the Mite Threat
Scientific Capacity: Despite the staff losses, USDA scientists have managed to identify the main culprit behind the bee die-offs and are pursuing new solutions, such as antiviral agents and alternative mite controls.
Operational Constraints: The scale and speed of any coordinated national response are likely to be limited. The loss of experienced staff and institutional knowledge undermines the USDA’s ability to deliver programs, conduct field research, and support rapid deployment of new treatments.
Need for Additional Resources: Experts and industry leaders are calling for urgent action to rehire essential staff, restore research capacity, and accelerate the development and approval of new tools to manage mite resistance and viral threats.
Conclusion
While the USDA has demonstrated scientific agility in diagnosing the mite-driven crisis, its ability to mount a full-scale defense is significantly compromised by recent staff cuts. Without a rapid restoration of personnel and resources, the rollout of new solutions and support for beekeepers will likely fall short of what is needed to address the ongoing threat to global pollination and food security.
Comment: Although the loss of bees and possibly other insect pollinators will be catastrophic, there is a silver lining: The USDA cuts are being accompanied by cuts to the IRS, so there will be no tax collectors to bother your heirs while they attempt to cope with your remains and the stacks of unburied corpses littering the countryside, reminiscent of the plagues of the Middle Ages.
* Source:Bees & mites
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