Scientists in York have helped develop a pioneering treatment with the potential to halt global honey bee losses.

It forces the deadly Varroa mite – lethal in the freezing weather – to self- destruct. The blood-sucking Varroa is the biggest killer of honey bees, having developed resistance to beekeepers’ medication. It is particularly destructive in winter when depleted colonies have insufficient bees to keep warm.

Now researchers from the Government’s National Bee Unit, based at the Food and Environment Research Agency at Sand Hutton, near York, and Aberdeen University have worked out how to “silence” natural functions in the mites’ genes to make them self-destruct.

Dr Giles Budge, of 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.”

Dr Alan Bowman, of the University of Aberdeen, said: “The beauty of this approach is that it is really specific and targets the mites without harming the bees.”

Environment Minister Lord Henley said: “Bees are essential to putting food on our table and worth £200m to Britain every year through pollinating crops. This excellent work by UK scientists will keep our hives healthy and bees buzzing.”

Tests by other scientists have shown the treatment can be added to hives in bee feed. The bees move it into food for their young, where the Varroa hides.