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How do varroa mites spread between western honeybee colonies?
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colony collapse disorder
A western honeybee (Apis mellifera) forages in Italy.
Varroa mites spread between western honeybee colonies primarily during their phoretic stage, when they attach to adult bees to feed and travel. The transmission occurs through several key mechanisms:1
- Drifter bees: Individual bees that inadvertently wander from their home colony into a different one can carry mites with them.21
- Colony raiding: Mites are spread when honeybees from one colony raid another colony’s honey stores.1
- Human activity: Beekeeping practices, such as moving food stores between hives or manipulating hives, can inadvertently facilitate the transfer of mites between colonies.21
Because these mites are a significant factor in colony collapse disorder, beekeepers often employ integrated pest management strategies—such as isolating colonies and using mite-resistant bee stocks—to limit their spread and mitigate the damage they cause to western honeybee populations.21