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Species Varroa destructor

bee parasite - Varroa destructor Varroa Mite - Varroa destructor - female Varroa Mite - Varroa destructor - female Varroa destructor Varroa mite? - Varroa destructor Varroa destructor Mite - Varroa destructor - female Mite - 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)
Explanation of Names
Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman 2000
Size
♀♀ 1.0‒1.8 mm long, 1.5‒2.0 mm wide • ♂♂ 0.75‒1.0 × 0.7‒0.9 mm
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 fat of honey bees through external digestion. Previously thought to feed on the hemolymph (Ramsey et al. 2019)
Remarks
Introduced throughout the world (except Australia) from its native range in SE Asia (original host Apis cerana). Got to the US in the 1980s and had a profound impact. This is the only species in the US. Transmits several bee viruses.