BeeOShield: an innovative biomolecular defence against bee parasites

The bees, together with the other pollinators, through the pollination of flowers, carry out fundamental and free ecosystem and agricultural services, without which there would be no agriculture, and in particular the cultivation of entomophilous plants (whose pollination takes place by insects ). In recent years, in some Member States, the number of colonies has even decreased by more than 50% (C.E. data). Autumn and winter losses contribute to the weakening of the colonies and the decline in honey production, which can even reach 50% in some Member States, and even 100% in certain regions. The increase in bee mortality forces beekeepers to buy new colonies more regularly, which leads to increased production costs. Since 2002 the cost of a colony is at least quadrupled and the replacement of a colony of bees often causes a drop in production in the short and medium term, since the new colonies are less productive in the initial phase. The increase in mortality of honey bees and wild pollinators currently observed in Europe is worrying, taking into account its negative repercussions on agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystems. This increase in mortality is caused by multiple stress factors, which vary according to the geographical area, local characteristics and climatic conditions. These factors include the severe impact of invasive species such as the Varroa destructor mite, as well as pathogens such as Nosema spp. and of viruses (including the deformed wing virus, DWV) that still cause numerous cases of health problems and losses during the active season until winter.