Although it has been shown that a mite infestation does not cause acute disease and devastating losses, the life of bees may be shortened, but only by a few days. The mites puncture the tracheal wall of young bees and feed in the haemolymph but do not appear to transmit diseases during this process. Infested bees may behave normally until they die or as described in the introduction. Honey production and pollen collecting are also reduced. Colonies that develop severe infestations usually do so in late summer and die in late winter.
American bees are somewhat less resistant than the British bees.
Survey and Detection A close examination of the trachea is required to determine mite infestation. Occasionally adult mites are found on the external surface of the bee. Gravid female mite crawls to the tip of a hair and attaches to a young bee. Management Acaricides that have been tested in Europe and Mexico are Acarol, Menthol, and Folbex Forte. Currently, no decision has been made to use these controls in the United States.