Review on Varroa mite: An invasive threat to apiculture industry

Abstract

Varrora mite is an ecto-parasite which causes more than 50 percent losses to honey bee colonies worldwide. Among all other species of varrora mite, Varroa destructor is a major pest of the honey bee which causes serious damage to its host colonies. It is an important pest for honeybee apiaries especially Aphis mellifera growing farmers. It mainly feeds on haemolymph of brood and adult bees which cause colony disorder, weakness, decreasing brood and deforming immature and mature bees. Varroa mite infested colonies lead to significant reduction of wing size and weight in worker bee of A. mellifera. Russian bees have more efficient grooming behavior which killed Varroa mites as compared to the Thai bees. The botanical green leaf extract mixture (Artemesia annua + Matricaria chamomilla + Juglans regia) @ 150 ml/colony was found highly effective against Varroa mite followed by M. chamomilla alone. The bio-pesticide (mycoacaricide) as dusting of Beauveria bassiana @ (5 ×106conidia/g) was also found effective against Varrora mite. The various chemical methods includes water solution of 0.5% oxalic acid (OA), taufluvalinate (2 strips per colony) and formic acid 85% @ 2 ml per colony were found highly effective against the V. destructor.