ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque-based company says it has a revolutionary new way to protect beehives from Colony Collapse Disorder. The Varroa mite is a tiny parasite that attaches itself to honey bees. It's believed the mite is partly responsible for colony collapse disorder. Story continues below Trending: VIDEO: Carlsbad woman leads police to child’s remains News: New federal court program in NM supports inmates after incarceration, celebrates first graduation Balloon Fiesta: Airabelle: From a nursery rhyme to the big time Balloon Fiesta: A look at Balloon Fiesta through the decades: The 1990s New Mexico-based Terra Vera has designed a machine that fogs beehives with amino acids and sugars that kill mites, but leave the bees unharmed. "Mites are really causing a huge catastrophe right now in honey bee populations. Last year, over the winter, between 40-60% of hives in the United States were lost due to colonies collapsing, due to these mites," said Justin Sanchez, Terra Vera Co-Founder. The company said the fog eventually breaks down into amino acids and sugars that the bees can use as food. Honey bees pollinate as much as two-thirds of our food crops.