Varroa Destructor

Q: "What all the buzz about with Varroa Mites anyway?"
A: Varroa Destructor, aka the Varroa Mite is enemy number one in the honey bee hive and the beekeeper's world (perhaps followed closely by chemicals). They are the leading cause of hive losses in the world and they are every where honey bees are found. Varroa, when left untreated, can explode in population and spread a viral load throughout the colony leading to illness causing absconding or complete collapse.

In this section we will explore what we've learned about the biology of the mites, checking for their presences and population size, treating for controlling the mites and finally, selective breeding honey bees for resistance to the mites and problems they cause. 

See the following: 

• Varroa Behavior 

• Checking for Mites

• Treating for Mites 

• Breeding for Resistance 

and another mite on the horizon...

• Tropilaelaps Mites 

See more