What is a tick on bees? - briefly
A tick on bees is a tiny, usually circular blemish on the insect’s exoskeleton, commonly resulting from mite infestation or disease. Such markings signal parasitic or pathogenic stress and help researchers evaluate colony health.
What is a tick on bees? - in detail
A tick observed on a bee is not a parasitic arachnid but a microscopic mite belonging to the family Varroa or a related group of ectoparasites. These arthropods attach to the bee’s exoskeleton, typically near the legs, thorax, or abdomen, and feed on hemolymph—the insect equivalent of blood. Feeding involves piercing the cuticle with a stylet, injecting enzymes that prevent clotting, and withdrawing nutrients. This activity weakens individual workers, reduces foraging efficiency, and can impair brood development.
Key biological aspects:
- Taxonomy: Most common species are Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps spp., both classified as mites rather than true ticks.
- Life cycle: Adult females enter brood cells before sealing, lay eggs on the developing larva, and the emerging offspring remain attached to the adult bee that emerges from the cell.
- Transmission: Mites move between bees through direct contact during grooming, trophallaxis, or clustering within the hive.
- Impact on colonies: Infestation levels above 5 % of the adult population often lead to colony collapse, as the parasites transmit viruses and cause immunosuppression.
Control measures focus on disrupting the mite’s reproductive cycle and reducing population density:
- Chemical treatments: Synthetic acaricides (e.g., amitraz, fluvalinate) applied at recommended intervals.
- Biotechnical methods: Drone brood removal, powdered sugar dusting, and screened bottom boards to encourage mite fall-off.
- Breeding for resistance: Selecting honeybee strains that exhibit hygienic behavior, such as uncapping and removing infested brood.
Monitoring involves counting mites on sampled bees using a sugar roll or alcohol wash, then calculating infestation rates. Regular assessment enables timely intervention before damage becomes irreversible.