Use of fluorescent paint labeling to monitor the behavior of Varroa destructor mites during their dispersal phase in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Varroa destructor is an ectoparastic mite of the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Varroa mite infestation is the leading cause of colony losses in the United States. When left untreated, high mite levels typically lead to colony collapse and eventual death within two years. Severe Varroa disease, or varroosis, causes a reduction in colony health, as well as the spread of several honey bee-associated viruses. While current pesticides treatments for mite control are relatively realiable, resistance to some products in certain mite populations across the country have been documented. The Varroa mite has two life phases: the reproductive, which includes the invasion of a female gravid mite into a bee brood cell for oviposition and offspring growth; and the dispersal phase, which occurs when the adult bee host emerges from its cell and the mites therein exit and attach themselves to adult bees in order to reach new bee brood cells to start the reproductive phase again. Few studies have documented the behavior of Varroa mites during the dispersal phase. Our study utilizes flourscent paints to monitor the movement of mites within honey bee colonies. Studying how Varroa moves within a colony during the dispersal phase could shed light on the bee host choice for the reproductive phase of the mite. Understanding the behavior of the mite is vital for developing future treatment methods for this detrimental pest.