There are three parasitic mites that affect honey bees - Varroa, Tropilaelaps and Euvarroa and all three of these parasites share many similarities. They all originate in Asia and naturally parasitise species of honey bee that are native to Asia. Unfortunately all three have jumped species to infest Western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Western honey bees have not evolved with any parasites, and therefore have not evolved any natural defences to parasitisation.

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If you are a beekeeper you are probably aware of Varroa and have witnessed the damage it can cause to a colony. Tropilaelaps is an emerging threat to Western honey bees, and was confirmed in Europe for the first time in 2024 in Eastern Russia and Georgia, and is now spreading westwards. Euvarroa is a little know parasitic mite related to both Varroa and Tropilaelaps. There is only limited research into Euvarroa, but it can parasitise Western honey bees and vector viruses such as deformed wing virus.

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The mite monitoring project is a resource for beekeepers offering - 

• Information on the biology and behaviour of all three mites.

• Monitoring guidance for Varroa and Tropilaelaps.

• Treatment guidance for Varroa.