Beekeepers now maintain fewer colonies, there are increased demands and costs for leasing hives and increased incidence of various pathogens in colonies. The danger of these mites is exacerbated by their ability to disperse locally on their bee hosts and over long distances along with colonies moved for commerce and pollination. There seem to be several mite-related pathologies whose etiology and pathophysiology is obscure. These poorly-defined diseases have been called Bee Parasitic Mite Syndrome , a term meant to describe a condition in which bee colonies, infested by mites, were not thriving. The symptoms, which may occur at any time of the year, include presence of mites without any predominant pathogen.
Colonies affected by varroa mites are often weak with a spotty brood pattern.
The drone and worker brood may have punctured cappings , suggesting foulbrood infection . Disfigured, stunted adults with deformed legs and wings may crawl on the ground outside or on the combs. In addition, workers remove larvae and pupae from cells and there is a general colony malaise, with multiple disease symptoms. The primary goal of the Penn State Honey Bee Lab is to increase our understanding of these important honey bee diseases and to develop methods for their control.