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. She has no wings, hardly any abdomen, and her rear legs are paralyzed. She cannot work, and will not live long. More pictures, showing PMS Brood and normal Brood Parasitic Mite Syndrome is dead brood, caused by serious varroa or tracheal mite infestations.