Honey Bee Parasites, Pests, Predators and Diseases

Emerging worker bee with Varroa mites

Mating occurs in the brood cells before the new adult females emerge. The adult males die after copulation since their mouth parts (chelicerae) are modified for sperm transfer rather than feeding. The old female and newly fertilized female offspring remain in the brood cell until the young bee emerges. The adult bee serves as an intermediate host and a means of transport for these female mites.