Varroa destructor

Varroa destructor are external parasitic mites of the honeybee, for a long time it was thought they fed on the bee's blood but it was only as recently as 2018/2019 that scientists discovered they actually feed on fat body tissues of the bee. It's thought that most if not all colonies in the UK contain some level of varroa if managed honeybees can survive and thrive no problem, if left untreated it can cause diseases to rapidly spread through colonies causing the colony to collapse. There are several treatments available, although they don't completely eradicate the mites it keeps levels of varroosis low enough it helps lower the spread of diseases. Unfortunately the mites do build up a tolerance to the treatments so we have to change what we use up to avoid this, as more information is gathered about what is happening better treatments will become available but this does take time. We do have beekeepers breeding varroa resistant bees and over time bees are generally starting to build more of a tolerance towards these suckers, we are still a long way off finding a permanent solution. Treatments are often carried out 3 times a year, we have to use treatments authorised by the veterinary medicines directorate and by law have to complete veterinary medicine record cards when using treatments, treatments will affect the honey so treatments only take place once all honey supers have been removed from the hives.

The top picture is mine of an adult mite feeding on an adult bee, 2nd picture from Google of an adult mite and 3rd picture from Warwickshire university of adult mites feeding on bee pupa.