NORTH-EAST beekeepers have welcomed news that scientists may be able to halt global honey bee losses by forcing the deadly Varroa mite, which is lethal in the freezing weather, to selfdestruct.

The blood-sucking Varroa is the biggest killer of honey bees worldwide, having developed resistance to beekeepers’ medication.

It is particularly destructive in winter because depleted colonies do not have enough bees huddling together to keep warm.

Researchers from the Government’s National Bee Unit and Aberdeen University have worked out how to alter natural functions in the mites’ genes to make them self-destruct.

John Bennington, a former chairman of Durham Beekeeping Association, said: “This is welcome news. Only yesterday, I lost one of my hives. It was not necessarily Varroa, but they do weaken the colony throughout the summer and make it difficult for the bees in the winter.

“This latest development is great news. Of course, we have to wait and see whether it works.”

Dr Alan Bowman, from Aberdeen University, said: “Introducing harmless genetic material encourages the mites’ own immune response to prevent their genes from expressing natural functions. This could make them self-destruct.

“The beauty of this approach is that it is really specific and targets the mites without harming the bees or, indeed, any other animal.”

Dr Giles Budge from the National Bee Unit, part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), said: “This cutting-edge treatment is environmentally friendly and poses no threat to the bees.

“With appropriate support from industry and a rigorous approval process, chemical-free medicines could be available in five to ten years.”

Environment Minister Lord Henley said: “Bees are essential to putting food on our table and worth £200m to Britain every year through pollinating our crops.

“This excellent work by UK scientists will keep our hives healthy and bees buzzing.”

Steve Robson, who helps run the family business at Chain Bridge Honey Farm, near Berwick, Northumberland, said: “We have 1,500 hives all over north Northumberland and in the Scottish Borders.

“We lost 50 this spring to the Varroa mite, so this is very good news.

“It is also very timely as they are particularly destructive at the moment as the temperatures continue to plummet and we have deep snow.”

Meanwhile, wildlife charities have called on the Government to act after leaked documents warned that a pesticide could pose a major risk to bee populations.

A memo from US government scientists revealed that the neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin was extremely harmful to the insects.

The file reveals that some of the tests in the approval process for the chemical were seen as inadequate by scientists because they were unable to detect environmental damage.

Neonicotinoid pesticides are used in the UK for agriculture and horticulture production and are highly toxic to bees and other insects.

Defra said the pesticide was not dangerous if used correctly.