Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Interested in a 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico?

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

National Moth Week 2020 photos of insects and people.

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Discussion, insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

Photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in Virginia, June 4-7.

Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Mites and Ticks (Acari) » Parasitiformes » Mesostigs (Mesostigmata) » Dermanyssina » Dermanyssoidea » Varroidae » Varroa » Varroa destructor

Species Varroa destructor

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References
bee parasite - Varroa destructor Mite on Unfortunate Bee - Varroa destructor Varroa - Varroa destructor - female Varroa Mite? - Varroa destructor Varroa Mite - Varroa destructor - female Varroa destructor Mite, anterior - Varroa destructor - female Mite, ventral-lateral head - Varroa destructor - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Subclass Acari (Mites and Ticks)
Superorder Parasitiformes
Order Mesostigmata (Mesostigs)
Suborder Dermanyssina
Superfamily Dermanyssoidea
Family Varroidae
Genus Varroa
Species destructor (Varroa destructor)
Size
Females: 1.00 to 1.77 mm long, 1.50 to 1.99 mm wide. Males: 0.75 to 0.98 mm long and 0.70 to 0.88 wide
Identification
Adult females reddish-brown to dark brown, oval in shape. Adult males yellowish with lightly tanned legs, spherical body shape
Range
Worldwide, except Australia, parts of Africa, and the Antarctic.
Habitat
Beehives.
Food
Feeds on the hemolymph of larvae and adult honey bees.
Remarks
Introduced throughout the world (except Australia) from its original place in Southeast Asia and its original host Apis cerana. It arrived in the US in the 1980s and had a profound impact on beehives.
At first, there was no certainty whether the introduced species was this or the closely related Varroa jacobsoni or both. Now we know that it is the only species in the US.
In addition to feeding on honey bees, it transmits several viruses to them.
Internet References
Encyclopedia of Life
University of Florida
Wikipedia
higher classification and list of world species (The Acari Project, Texas A&M U.)
Varroa destructor
Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 21 April, 2014 - 11:12am
Last updated 10 February, 2017 - 6:23pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2022 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact