In the intricate dance of nature, not a lot of pests pose as significant a threat to populations of honeybees as the much-dreaded Varroa mites or Varroa destructor. This is why every beekeeper should learn the process of effective Varroa mite control to keep these pesky pests in check at all times.
Varroa mites are minuscule parasites that originated from Asia. Sadly, they have already spread across the world, infesting millions of colonies and contributing to the decline of bee populations around the globe.
As a result, beekeepers are left to deal with the daunting challenge of proper management of Varroa mites. After all, their presence can weaken bee colonies, and transmit dreaded viruses, which can ultimately lead to complete colony collapse.
This article aims to explore and look into the biology of Varroa mites, the different kinds of damage they can inflict, and the various strategies that can be used to control their population and safeguard the health and well-being of bee colonies.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Pesky Varroa Mites
Varroa mites are a type of ectoparasites that mainly target honeybees, particularly the Apis mellifera or the Western honeybee. These arachnids are reddish-brown and are barely visible to the naked eye.
The pests tend to attach themselves to the adult bees as well as their developing brood. They then feed on their hemolymph or blood and transmit destructive viruses such as deformed wing virus or DWV and acute bee paralysis virus or ABPV.
Cultural practices for Varroa mite control aim to create hive conditions unfavorable for the spread and reproduction of these pests while still promoting and supporting the health and resilience of the honeybee colonies.
The reproductive cycle of these Varroa mites has a complex connection with that of honeybees, and this is what makes their elimination a rather challenging task.
Damage Caused by Varroa Mites
The damaging impact of Varroa mites on honeybee colonies is regrettably multifaceted and severe. For starters, their feeding can make adult bees weak, cutting down their lifespan and compromising their ability to forage for food and look after the brood.
Beekeepers use oxalic acid to get rid of varroa mites in honey bees.
One more thing to note is that Varroa mites seem to have this inclination to feed on developing brood cells. These are where these pests reproduce which can then cause deformities or worse, even death to the emerging bees.
