**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** VARROA DESTRUCTOR IS AN INVASIVE PARASITE WHICH HAS CAUSED A PANDEMIC IN HONEY BEE POPULATIONS SHORTLY AFTER ITS COSMOPOLITAN SPREAD ACROSS THE GLOBE. NEW FINDINGS SHOW THAT SCIENTISTS HAVE MISIDENTIFIED THE IDEAL HOST OF VARROA DESTRUCTOR FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. THIS PROJECT WILL ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT AN IDEAL HOST IS AND THE KEY CHARACTERISTICS THAT DRIVE ATTRACTION TO THESE HOSTS. I WILL THEN EXPERIMENTALLY TEST THE CONSEQUENCES OF MITES FEEDING ON THESE HOSTS, AND TRY TO IDENTIFY KEY GENES RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HOST SELECTION.