What is the name of the tick that lives on bees? - briefly
The bee‑infesting parasite is the Varroa mite, scientifically named Varroa destructor. It feeds on the hemolymph of adult and developing bees and spreads viral diseases.
What is the name of the tick that lives on bees? - in detail
The parasite commonly found on honey‑bee colonies is the mite Varroa destructor. It belongs to the order Acari, family Varroidae, and is a member of the Arachnida class, not a true tick. Adult females attach to adult bees, feeding on hemolymph and reproducing in sealed brood cells. The life cycle includes:
- Phoretic phase on adult workers or drones, where the mite disperses throughout the hive.
- Reproductive phase inside a capped larval cell; a fertilized female lays up to five eggs, each developing into a mobile nymph that also consumes the host’s hemolymph.
- Emergence of mature mites with the emerging adult bee, re‑entering the phoretic stage.
Impact on colonies includes reduced lifespan of adult bees, impaired flight ability, and vectoring of viruses such as Deformed Wing Virus. Infestation levels are typically expressed as mites per 100 bees; thresholds above 3 % indicate serious risk.
Detection methods:
- Sugar roll or alcohol wash of a sample of adult bees to dislodge mites for counting.
- Sticky boards placed at the hive bottom to collect fallen mites over 24 hours.
- Visual inspection of brood cells for reproductive mites.
Control strategies:
- Chemical treatments (e.g., amitraz, fluvalinate) applied according to label instructions to avoid resistance.
- Biotechnical methods such as drone brood removal, which concentrates mites in drone cells that are then destroyed.
- Breeding for hygienic behavior, where bees detect and remove infested brood.
- Organic acids (oxalic, formic) and essential oils (thymol) used in regulated doses.
Another mite associated with bees is Acarapis woodi, the tracheal mite, which inhabits the respiratory system of adult workers. It causes reduced oxygen transport and can exacerbate colony decline, especially under stress.
Understanding the biology, monitoring techniques, and integrated management options is essential for maintaining healthy honey‑bee colonies.