varroa

American  

[vahr-oh-uh] / ˈvɑr oʊ ə /

noun

1. a small mite, Varroa jacobsoni, that is a parasite of the honeybee.

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Etymology

Origin of varroa

First recorded in 1970–75; from New Latin; genus name, named after Marcus Terentius Varro ( def. )

Example Sentences

"There is currently no treatment for viruses in honey bee colonies, but now that we better understand their impact, we can change the way we manage varroa to give the queen a better chance."

From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2025

A major threat to hives is the varroa mite, a parasite that latches onto the back of the bee.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 30, 2022

“Australia is the only major honey-producing country free from varroa mite,” said Satendra Kumar, the chief plant protection officer of New South Wales state, where the pest was discovered on Friday.

From New York Times • Jun. 30, 2022

The varroa destructor was first found at a port near Sydney last week but has since been spotted in hives 100km away.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2022

But left unchecked, the varroa mite—a blind, eight-legged parasite—can kill enough bees to doom an entire colony.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 7, 2022