A University of the Sunshine Coast researcher is investigating whether spider and scorpion venoms have the potential to save Australia’s honey bees from the invasive and deadly  Varroa mite parasite.

Hundreds of hives have been destroyed, and Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia have banned bees, hives, and honey products from New South Wales in a bid to contain an outbreak of the  Varroa destructor mite, detected for the first time in Australia at several properties in New South Wales.

“Despite the grim outlook, I think it is not all lost yet, if we act swift