Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
- Apis cerana
Infestation by Varroa destructor
Varroosis
Parasitic disease of the honey bee caused by the mite Varroa destructor. It weakens adult bees and brood and favors the transmission and expression of viruses, making it one of the main health issues in beekeeping.
Agent
Varroa destructor
Notifiable in Portugal
Yes
Signs to watch for
Adult bees
- Visible mites on bees
- Weakened bees
- Deformed wings when associated viral infections are present
Brood
- Irregular brood pattern
- Damaged pupae
- Visible mites in capped brood
Colony
- Population decline
- Mortality
- Colony collapse
Confirmation and identification
Field observation and monitoring
- Alcohol wash count or an equivalent validated method
- Natural mite fall on a monitoring board
- Brood uncapping, especially drone brood
Laboratory methods
- Morphological identification of the mite when needed
Control and impact reduction
Good practices
- Monitor before and after control actions
- Coordinate actions in the same area whenever possible
- Avoid moving infested material
Prevention
- Regular monitoring
- Biosecurity when buying or moving colonies
- Avoid reinfestation
- Use a responsible rotation of strategies to reduce resistance
Ongoing monitoring
Indicators
- Infestation rate
- Mite fall
- Presence of brood
- Signs of viral disease
Recommended frequency
- Defined by the beekeeping cycle, local risk, and the health plan