Dr. Sam Ramsey discusses varroa anatomy and his discovery that the parasite feeds on the fat body of bees and not the blood.
Varroa Destructor is an invasive species that parasitizes honey bees. It arrived on our shores in 1987 and has completely changed the way beekeepers manage their colonies. A great deal of research is being done to understand the varroa mite so it can be brought under control.
Dr. Ramsey’s groundbreaking research started with the mite’s anatomy to study how it attaches to a bee and where and how it feeds. The specific place on the bee’s body that was invaded led Dr. Ramsey to believe that varroa is feeding on the fat body, not the blood.
Click on the link to watch the lecture from the Institute of Northern Ireland Beekeepers Honey Show 2019: Video Link