Which two parasitic mites are present in the United States for honeybees?

• A. Acarapis woodi and Varroa destructor
• B. Tropilaelaps clareae and Varroa destructor
• C. Acarapis woodi and Tropilaelaps clareae
• D. Nosema ceranae and Varroa destructor

Answer: (A)

Two mites that are established in the United States and affect honeybees are Varroa destructor and Acarapis woodi. Varroa destructor is an external parasite that attaches to bees, sucks their hemolymph, and reproduces in brood cells, weakening colonies and often spreading viruses such as deformed wing virus. Its widespread presence makes it the primary mite management challenge for beekeepers nationwide. Acarapis woodi, the tracheal mite, lives inside the bee’s respiratory system (the tracheae), causing respiratory stress and reduced lifespan; infections can be subtler and harder to detect, requiring examination of the tracheal tissues. Tropilaelaps clareae is not established in the United States, and Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian pathogen, not a mite.