BEHAVIOR OF VARROA MITES INVADING HONEY-BEE BROOD CELLS

Invasion behaviour of Varroa jacobsoni into honey bee brood cells was studied using an observation hive. The mites were carried close to a s uitable brood cell by the bees. Subsequently, the mites moved from the bees to the rim of the cell, walked quickly inside, crawled between t he larva and the cell wall, and moved onto the bottom of the cell. Var roa mites were never seen walking across the comb, and entering and le aving brood cells as has been described for Tropilaelaps clareae. Diff erences in invasion strategies between V. jacobsoni and T. clareae are discussed.