When European honeybees were taken to the region, the mite crossed over to the new bees. Gradually they have spread until most of the world's European honeybees are afflicted. Some areas of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and a few pockets, here and there, are still free of the pest. Asian honeybees had been able to tolerate the varroa mite. The mite was a pest, but not a fatal one.
European bees have almost no resistance, and the mite has proved fatal to millions of colonies.
Domestic honeybees, that are well managed are not usually affected. Several mites on a drone larva. Mites are reddish brown and stand out against the white baby drone. Finding one mite while checking ten or twenty drones is cause to treat. Finding several mites on each drone, probably indicates a hive too late to save.