Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) is more than one species

Area of Science:

• * Zoology
• * Entomology
• * Apiculture

Background:

• * Varroa jacobsoni, an ectoparasitic mite, originally infested Eastern honeybees (Apis cerana) in Asia.
• * This mite later switched hosts to Western honeybees (A. mellifera), becoming a global agricultural pest.
• * Previous research often conflated distinct mite species due to morphological similarities.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the genotypic, phenotypic, and reproductive variations within the Varroa mite complex infesting Apis cerana.
• * To reclassify the Varroa mite species and identify which species are responsible for infesting Apis mellifera.
• * To provide a foundation for improved quarantine protocols and mite control strategies.

Main Methods:

• * Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) CO-I gene sequences to define haplotypes.
• * Comparative morphological analysis of adult female mites.
• * Reproductive compatibility studies between different mite populations.

Main Results:

• * Varroa jacobsoni is redefined to include nine haplotypes from the Malaysia-Indonesia region, including the Java haplotype.
• * A new species, Varroa destructor n. sp., is described, encompassing six haplotypes from mainland Asia, distinguished by larger size and distinct morphology.
• * Only two haplotypes of V. destructor (Korea and Japan/Thailand) have become significant pests of A. mellifera globally, while V. jacobsoni does not infest A. mellifera.

Conclusions:

• * The Varroa mite complex consists of at least two distinct species: V. jacobsoni and V. destructor.
• * The economically significant pest of Western honeybees is V. destructor, not V. jacobsoni.
• * Findings necessitate a re-evaluation of past research and inform future pest management strategies for honeybee mites.