Honey Bees and Varroa Mite: Understanding and Managing in Australia

Understanding Varroa DestructorVarroa destructor is a parasitic mite that reproduces in honey bee brood cells, feeding on the fat bodies of developing and adult bees. It weakens bees physically and acts as a vector for debilitating viruses — particularly deformed wing virus (DWV), which causes bees to emerge with deformed wings and shortened lifespans. Globally, varroa is responsible for significant colony losses and has required all beekeepers outside Australia and a few other countries to im…