In the search for new avenues to protect honey bees (Apis mellifera) from Varroa mites, researchers have identified breeds of A. mellifera that show signs of “social apoptosis,” a defense mechanism common in Asian bees that are resistant to Varroa infestation. Here, a honey bee (not part of the research summarized here) carries two Varroa destructor mites, one feeding on the side of its abdomen and one hitching a ride on the top of its abdomen. (Public domain photo via USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab on Flickr)