The endoparasitic mite Locustacarus buchneri Stammer 1951 (Podapolipidae) w
as found in commercially introduced colonies of the European bumblebee, Bom
bus terrestris. The average infestation rate of colonies (n=367) from the N
etherlands and Belgium was 20%. Urgent investigation of the infectivity and
pathogenicity of this mite to Japanese native bumblebees and the geographi
c distribution of this mite in Japan is required.