This genus is exclusively associated with Tetrapedia (Apidae: Tetrapediini). Adults live in the bee nests, and deutonymphs disperse on the adult bees (Figs. 6, 7). Deutonymphs of Roubikia panamensis and R. imberba can also be found dispersing on kleptoparasitic bees of the genus Coelioxoides (Apidae: Tetrapediini) (Figs. 5, 8). This kleptoparasitic 'cuckoo' bee does not build its own nests but uses nests of Tetrapedia as a resource for its brood (Alves-Dos-Santos et al., 2002). For Roubikia, Coelioxoides bees may serve as transport, dispersing the mites to different nests of Tetrapedia.
In Brazil, mites associated with Tetrapedia diversipes have been shown to be beneficial to the bee as the bee mortality rate in nests was inversely correlated to the level of mite infestation (Cordeiro et al., 2011). The mites presumably feed on fungi harmful to the bee larvae inside the bee nests (Cordeiro et al., 2011).
A single species, Roubikia latebrosa, is phoretic in the metasomal acarinarium of the host (Figs. 3, 4). Dispersal to unrelated host bees can be accomplished via phoresy on kleptoparasitic bees attacking the mite's principal hosts (Alves-Dos-Santos et al., 2002). Mites may disembark from the bees and attach to new host females at places where the bees collect loose dirt for nest material or forage (Roubik, 1987).