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Varroa destructor, a mite pest of honey bees.
The most serious pest of modern beekeeping is Varroa destructor, an Asian mite that jumped from the eastern hive bee Apis cerana to the western bee Apis mellifera when commercial beekeeping brought the two bee species into contact. The mite causes severe winter losses in heavily infected bee yards. Here, a mite rides on the abdomen of a worker bee.
Varroa destructor mites are among the most damaging pests of the domestic honey bee Apis mellifera. The mites feed on the haemolymph of developing and adult bees, damaging or even killing thm, and they can transmit diseases as well. If left unchecked, a mite infestation can destroy a hive. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aethina tumida, the small hive beetle, showing the distinctive clubbed antennae that mark the family Nitidulidae. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aethina tumida, the small hive beetle. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aethina tumida, the small hive beetle, became a serious pest of honey bees after it spread from its native range in Africa in the 1990's. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aethina tumida, the small hive beetle, showing the distinctive clubbed antennae that mark the family Nitidulidae.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aethina tumida, the small hive beetle, showing the distinctive clubbed antennae that mark the family Nitidulidae. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aethina tumida, the small hive beetle, showing the distinctive clubbed antennae that mark the family Nitidulidae.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
See photo in original gallery.
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013