Varroa jacobsoni (Acari : Varroidae) is more than one species

Varroa jacobsoni was first described as a natural ectoparasitic mite of the Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) throughout Asia. It later switched host to the Western honeybee (A. mellifera) and has now become a serious pest of th at bee worldwide. The studies reported here on genotypic, phenotypic and re productive variation among V. jacobsoni infesting A. cerana throughout Asia demonstrate that V. jacobsoni is a complex of at least two different speci es. In a new classification V. jacobsoni is here redefined as encompassing nine haplotypes (mites with distinct mtDNA CO-I gene sequences) that infest A. cerana in the Malaysia-Indonesia region. Included is a Java haplotype, specimens of which were used to first describe V. jacobsoni at the beginnin g of this century. A new name, V. destructor n. sp., is given to six haplot ypes that infest A. cerana on mainland Asia. Adult females of V. destructor are significantly larger and less spherical in shape than females of V. ja cobsoni and they are also reproductively isolated from females of V. jacobs oni. The taxonomic positions of a further three unique haplotypes that infe st A. cerana in the Philippines is uncertain and requires further study. Other studies reported here also show that only two of the 18 different hap lotypes concealed within the complex of mites infesting A. cerana have beco me pests of A. mellifera worldwide. Both belong to V. destructor, and they are not V. jacobsoni. The most common is a Korea haplotype, so-called becau se it was also found parasitizing A. cerana in South Korea. It was identifi ed on A. mellifera in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americ as. Less common is a Japan/Thailand haplotype, so-called because it was als o found parasitizing A. cerana in Japan and Thailand. It was identified on A. mellifera in Japan, Thailand and the Americas. Our results imply that the findings of past research on V. jacobsoni are ap plicable mostly to V. destructor. Our results will also influence quarantin e protocols for bee mites, and may present new strategies for mite control.