CBC radio’s science program Quirks and Quarks included an interesting discussion about spider mites today.  

Dr. Miodrag Grbic a professor of biology at the University of Western Ontario has been studying the genome of this mite which feeds on plants. Like varroa mites, spider mites are very good at developing resistance to pesticides. And like varroa mites, it has always been assumed that their ability to develop resistance was due to their short life cycle (spider mites reproduce in seven days; varroa takes ten days) Dr. Grbic’s team has discovered the real key to spider mites resistant abilities is that they are able to transfer genes from other organisms (bacteria, fungi, plants) into their genome, which they then use to detoxify harmful chemicals.

You can listen to the nine minute interview at  http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2170845893
I don’t know how closely spider mites are related to varroa mites but thought this was interesting research. Dr. Grbic now hopes to use this information to thwart the spider mite’s defenses.

BTW, I have noticed in recent years scientists tend to start the answers to questions with the word “so”.  Eg. Q:“What do bluebirds eat?” A: “So, bluebirds eat flying insects.” No doubt this is caused by something in scientist's genome. The interview with Dr. Grbic is a good example of this strange phenomenon.  

Ted

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