Species Varroa destructor

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks

Varroa 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.

Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 21 April, 2014 - 11:12am
Additional contributions by v belov, Nathaniel Green
Last updated 26 December, 2024 - 3:06pm

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