Untangling environmental effects on bee health in the face of Varroa

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This project aims to assess bee health, disease and evolution in European honeybees and bumblebees. Bee viruses transmitted by the destructive Varroa mite cause worldwide pollinator declines. Factors determining bee health will be identified across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, which differ in Varroa impact and bee introduction histories. Harnessing Australia’s currently threatened Varroa-free status, the bumblebee invasion in Tasmania, and cutting-edge multi-omics techniques (for microbiomes, viruses and genomes), predictors of disease dynamics will be identified for two globally important bee pollinators. The project outcomes will boost Australia's capacity to manage threats to pollination services at landscape scales.