A Recent Survey By Landcare Research Estimates That 6.4% Of Bee Colonies Are Lost Due To The Varroa Destructor Mite

A recent survey by Landcare Research estimates that 6.4% of bee colonies are lost due to the Varroa Destructor mite. The annual survey attributes nearly half of all colony losses to the mite demonstrating its destructive effects are escalating. This is a 20% increase from the 2021 when it was 5.3%. That was the year Varroa became the leading cause of bee losses. Varroa mites are small parasites that live on honey bees feeding and reproducing on larvae which can spread viruses, and shorten bees’ lifespans, eventually destroying colonies. New Zealand has done exceptionally well trying to slow varroa’s spread over the past 23 years but it is now building momentum, making it more destructive for hive populations. With more hives now too varroa’s spread is quicker and failing to treat is fatal.