ENVS*2210 Final Exam Questions and
Answers.
Varroa Mite Etiology - Answer Varroa destructor parasitizes brood and adult bees, affecting
colony productivity and bee survivorship. Varroa parasitism results in haemolymph loss, weight
loss, suppression of immune responses, transmission of viral diseases and shortening of the
bees' lifespan.
Varroa Mite Transmission - Answer Robbing and drifting bees, and by comb exchange between
colonies.
Varroa Mite Life Cycle - Answer Adult varroa females reproduce in worker and drone brood
cells. They prefer drone brood to reproduce because the capping period is longer, allowing the
mite to produce more offspring. In worker brood, a female mite enters a cell containing a five-
day old larva and immerse herself in the larval food underneath the larva, to avoid being
removed from the cell by nurse bees. After the cell is capped, the female mite moves onto the
larval body and begins feeding on the host's haemolymph. The mite begins laying eggs 60 hours
after the cell is capped and is able to lay up to six of them. Eggs hatch and adult male and
female mites mate within the cell. Males die in the cell because they cannot feed themselves.
Females continue to feed and leave the cell when the bee emerges. Mites get transferred
through contact between adult bees and feed from the adult bee haemolymph by biting them
at their intersegmental membranes. After a few days, the cycle is repeated.
Varroa Mite Symptoms - Answer Smaller, deformed, and sometimes wing-less. Commonly
associated with the parasitic mite syndrome, because they transmit viral and bacterial diseases
to bees.
Varroa Mite Diagnosis - Answer By observing mites in the colony. To determine the severity of
the infestation, two tests are commonly used: the ether-roll assay and sticky boards
Varroa Mite Control - Answer Synthetic acaricides: fluvalinate, amitraz and coumaphos
Natural acaricides: formic acid, thymol, and oxalic acid
Tracheal Mite Etiology - Answer Acarapis woodi, is a microscopic mite that lives inside bee
tracheae. These mites may affect the productivity of honey bee colonies and cause high colony
mortality rates during winter (at infestation rates of >30%).
Tracheal Mite Transmission - Answer Like varroa mites + physical contact between bees
Tracheal Mite Life Cycle - Answer Female mites enter the pro-thoracic tracheae of young
worker bees (< 5 days of age) through the spiracles located under the forewings. The mite
Answers.
Varroa Mite Etiology - Answer Varroa destructor parasitizes brood and adult bees, affecting
colony productivity and bee survivorship. Varroa parasitism results in haemolymph loss, weight
loss, suppression of immune responses, transmission of viral diseases and shortening of the
bees' lifespan.
Varroa Mite Transmission - Answer Robbing and drifting bees, and by comb exchange between
colonies.
Varroa Mite Life Cycle - Answer Adult varroa females reproduce in worker and drone brood
cells. They prefer drone brood to reproduce because the capping period is longer, allowing the
mite to produce more offspring. In worker brood, a female mite enters a cell containing a five-
day old larva and immerse herself in the larval food underneath the larva, to avoid being
removed from the cell by nurse bees. After the cell is capped, the female mite moves onto the
larval body and begins feeding on the host's haemolymph. The mite begins laying eggs 60 hours
after the cell is capped and is able to lay up to six of them. Eggs hatch and adult male and
female mites mate within the cell. Males die in the cell because they cannot feed themselves.
Females continue to feed and leave the cell when the bee emerges. Mites get transferred
through contact between adult bees and feed from the adult bee haemolymph by biting them
at their intersegmental membranes. After a few days, the cycle is repeated.
Varroa Mite Symptoms - Answer Smaller, deformed, and sometimes wing-less. Commonly
associated with the parasitic mite syndrome, because they transmit viral and bacterial diseases
to bees.
Varroa Mite Diagnosis - Answer By observing mites in the colony. To determine the severity of
the infestation, two tests are commonly used: the ether-roll assay and sticky boards
Varroa Mite Control - Answer Synthetic acaricides: fluvalinate, amitraz and coumaphos
Natural acaricides: formic acid, thymol, and oxalic acid
Tracheal Mite Etiology - Answer Acarapis woodi, is a microscopic mite that lives inside bee
tracheae. These mites may affect the productivity of honey bee colonies and cause high colony
mortality rates during winter (at infestation rates of >30%).
Tracheal Mite Transmission - Answer Like varroa mites + physical contact between bees
Tracheal Mite Life Cycle - Answer Female mites enter the pro-thoracic tracheae of young
worker bees (< 5 days of age) through the spiracles located under the forewings. The mite
