Varroa destructor

The Varroa mite or Varroa destructor is the world’s most devastating pest of Apis mellifera, the Western honey bee. As ectoparasites, Varroa destructors attack adult honey bees and their developing larvae, feeding on their fat body tissues. Varroa infestation results in deformation, mortality, and subsequent weakening of the colony which potentially leads to colony death. As the mite can spread quickly from colony to colony, the Varroa destructor is an imminent threat to honey bees. Formerly found only in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, the mite has now infiltrated the United States where it is devastating the Western honey bee population.

A Varroa destructor attached to Apis mellifera, a Western honey bee.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Mesostigmata

Family: Varroidae

Genus: Varroa

Species: V. destructor