The spread of killer bees could be prevented through genetic testing and could also help beehives in Australia thrive, said a new study released by the University of Sydney.

"Having a tool that can identify desirable and undesirable bee subspecies will be of value to breeding and conservation programs throughout the world," said lead researcher Nadine Chapman from the School of Biological Sciences.

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The discovery will help Australian beekeepers stop importing killer bees or Africanized honeybees that are unmanageable because of their aggression.

The test will compare a species' genetics from 95 genetic mutations selected from a database of 12 million. These mutations they discovered at York University differentiate Africanized from European honeybees, according to the study's co-author Brock Harpur.

This test will identify from which ancestral lineage a subspecies came from: African, Western European or Eastern European. Those with strong African lineage will not be permitted to enter the country.

Apparently, Australia needs to import bees to develop resistance to native parasites and help local bees thrive.

Another factor that needed consideration is the presence of the destructive Varroa mite, a pest that doesn't naturally exist in Australia and has no natural enemy.

This pest spreads blood-borne diseases that can wipe-out infected bee colonies. Beekeepers have to import Varroa-resistant semen to spread resistance in the colonies.

These factors have been known to affect beekeeping in Australia. Beekeepers could import bees only from a few countries they've identified as hosting the desirable species.

But the new technology will change the quality of beekeeping in Australia and in other countries as well, said Dr. Chapman. She cited how honeybees pollinate crops, helping farmers and the world economy.

"[Any] strategy that can prevent losses is an important contribution to food security," she added.

Dr. Chapman now works on making the test more affordable for beekeepers. Her next step is to work with the United States in developing bee importation standards, reports said.

Tagskiller bees, Bees, Australia, University of Sydney, Nadine Chapman