Scientists are working to create "killer bees" to save the dying population of the bees because of a disorder that wipes out the numbers of worker bees in a beehive called Colony Collapse Disorder, the UK Telegraph reports.
The bee populations in Europe, UK, and the US are being in danger because of the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The term refers to the sudden disappearance of the whole bee colonies leaving at least 25 percent of hives in some countries vacant.
It is suspected that the main reason behind CCD in the world’s northern hemisphere is the vulnerability of the bees to the deformed wing virus caused by the mite known as Varroa destructor.
However, scientists have observed that African bees are more aggressive than their northern hemisphere-based brothers. They have higher swarming tendencies than their European friends and appear to have more tolerance to the parasite.
Now, scientists from Australia are working on producing a cross breed of the European and African honeybees which would have both traits of stubborn mite resistance and human co-existence tolerance.
The cross-breeds of bees in the US have earned the moniker "killer bees" because even though they are considered less venomous than a European bee, they have such an aggressive character that adds up to their dangerous side.
In addition, they also have a better immune system according to Prof Boris Baer from University of Australia’s Centre for Integrative Bee Research. He added that humans should be able to share the ecosystem with the bees. We should find a compromise between killer bees and the bees that we breed so that humans and bees can live harmoniously together.
Bee experts from the UK have expressed that there is a low probability that such cross-breed would be introduced in Europe or in the UK. This is because of the fact that the genes of African bees have never been really introduced to those bee populations that are domesticated.
A spokesperson from Defra explained that bee health is of utmost importance. As such, scientists have been regularly reviewing studies gathered around the world as a consolidated effort to thwart the declining of the bees. Therefore, any form of introduction of alien species would incur strict testing to assure the protection of British wildlife.
