Honey Bee Parasites, Pests, Predators and Diseases

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Varroa mite
between abdominal segment

Adult female mites are found on young drone and worker adults. They are mostly concentrated on the top of the thorax at the point where the wings attach, between the head and thorax, between the thorax and abdomen or between overlapping segments of the abdomen, as in this SEM. These are places where mites can easily penetrate the exoskeleton of their host with their piercing mouthparts to gain access to the bee's blood and are less likely to be removed by grooming.