Mesostigmata
t
Taxonomy
updated 2025
Classification
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Infraorder Gamasina » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Superfamily Dermanyssoidea » Family Varroidae » Genus Varroa
Diagnostic characters
- Peritremes short, sinuous
- Sternal shield horseshoe-shaped and bearing 5 pairs of setae
- Metapodal shields very large and covered with numerous small setae
- Opisthogenital shield with numerous small setae, expanded laterally and reaching metapodal and anal shields; body broader than long
More about Varroa on Bee Mite ID
Similar taxa
Euvarroa mites are longer than broad and have a ventrianal shield and small metapodal shields. Tropilaelaps are longer than wide and have narrow genital shields. Melittiphis have a well developed sternal keel.
Ecology and distribution
Parasites of honeybees.
References
- Casanueva 1993Casanueva 1993:
Casanueva ME. 1993. Phylogenetic studies of the free-living arthropod associated Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata). Gayana Zoologica 57: 21–46.
- Delfinado and Baker 1974Delfinado and Baker 1974:
Delfinado MD, Baker EW. 1974. Varroidae, a new family of mites on honey bees (Mesostigmata: Acarina). Journal of the Washington Academy of Science 64: 4–10.
- Delfinado-Baker and Houck 1989Delfinado-Baker and Houck 1989:
Delfinado-Baker M, Houck MA. 1989. Geographic variation in Varroa jacobsoni (Acari, Varroidae): Application of multivariate morphometric techniques. Apidologie 20: 345–358.
