Fears varroa mite outbreak may spread beyond NSW borders

Why are Varroa mites so deadly? 👇 Varroa mites pose a significant threat to Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) because these bees have not co-evolved with these mites. Unlike the Asian honeybee species (Apis cerana), which developed certain natural defenses against Varroa mites, Apis mellifera lacks effective mechanisms to cope with these parasites on their own. Varroa mites feed on the bodily fluids of honeybees, transmit harmful viruses, and reproduce in capped brood cells, contributing to w