The other, the Varroa mite, attaches to the outside of adult and immature bees, feeding on their blood. He works with beekeepers to save their bees. He and his coworkers proved that a formic-acid gel placed in the colony released fumes that killed the mites but didn't harm the bees. Despite the progress made in combating the bee-killing mites, beekeepers sometimes suffer setbacks. By the time researchers discovered the loss, the bodies had dried out and weren't suitable for examination.
Skinner suspects the tracheal mite is the culprit.
Beekeepers have been having so much trouble with the Varroa mite, they may have let down their guard on the tracheal mite. We need additional weapons in our arsenal to use in an integrated approach that kills mites, saves bees and does not contaminate hive products like honey and wax. Skinner and his associates are continuing research on the mites to aid the insect that pollinates Tennessee apples, pumpkins and squash. Many think so. And unfortunately, research on child and youth poverty bears this out.