Tropilaelaps mite information for beekeepers

Ana Heck<heckanar@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - December 10, 2025

Resources for learning about Tropilaelaps spp., mites that can parasitize various species of honey bees, including Apis mellifera.

A varroa mite and a Tropilaelaps mite next to each other with a gray background. The varroa mite is larger than the Tropilaelaps mite. — A Varroa destructor mite (left) and a Tropilaelaps spp. mite (right). Varroa mites are honey bee parasites found in nearly all honey bee colonies in North America, whereas Tropilaelaps mites are not believed to be in North America. Photo by Zachary Huang, MSU.

Tropilaelaps mites, which are sometimes referred to as “tropi mites,” can parasitize various species of honey bees, including Apis mellifera, the Western honey bee. Apis mellifera is currently the only species of honey bee found and managed in the United States. Tropilaelaps mites originate from Asia; according to the Tropilaelaps Mites 2024 United States Primer, they have been reported in China, Georgia (the country, not the U.S. state), India, Indonesia (except Sulawesi), Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines (Palawan only) Russia (Krasnodar and Krai only), South Korea, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. As of October 2024, Tropilaelaps mites are not known to be in North America. Tropilaelaps mites harm honey bees by feeding on developing bees, which can lead to shorter bee lifespans, and vectoring viruses, including deformed wing virus.

Many apiary inspectors, researchers, Extension educators and honey bee organizations are investing time and effort in learning about Tropilaelaps mites and sharing educational resources. The Apiary Inspectors of America maintain the website Tropilaelaps – Honey Bee Pests with resources and updates. The Apiary Inspectors of America, Auburn University, Honey Bee Health Coalition, Pollinator Partnership, Project Apis m., U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and USDA Agricultural Research Service released a Tropilaelaps fact sheet that describes the mite’s life cycle, what the mite looks like, and what to do if you suspect the mite in your honey bee colonies. The Tropilaelpas Mites 2024 United States Primer from Apiary Inspectors of America, Auburn University, Honey Bee Health Coalition, Pollinator Partnership, Project Apis m., USDA covers Tropilaelaps mite information in greater detail. The Tropilaelaps Training 2024 Documentary Series from Project Apis m. has videos on what beekeepers should know about Tropilaelaps mites and information from Thailand, where the mite is found in honey bee colonies.

Michigan State University Extension coordinates the Managed Pollinator Protection Working Group, which hosted webinars on Tropilaelaps mites and posted their recordings: Tropilaelaps Beekeeper Preparedness with Natasha Garcia-Andersen and Tropilealaps Mite Monitoring, Diagnosis, and Management with Jenna Crowder and James Fulton.

Visit the Tropilaelaps website from the Apiary Inspectors of America

Download Tropilaelaps, A Growing Threat to Honey Bees Fact Sheets

Download Tropilaelaps Mites 2024 United States Primer

Resources and additional information on Tropilaelaps mites

Tropilaelaps Mites – Honey Bee Pests from Apiary Inspectors of America
Tropilaelaps fact sheet – Apiary Inspectors of America, Auburn University, Honey Bee Health Coalition, Pollinator Partnership, Project Apis m., U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
Tropilaelpas Mites 2024 United States Primer – Apiary Inspectors of America, Auburn University, Honey Bee Health Coalition, Pollinator Partnership, Project Apis m., USDA
Tropilaelaps Training 2024 Documentary Series and 2024 Tropilaelaps Training in Thailand Trailer– Project Apis m.
Tropi STOP webpage – Pollinator Partnership and partners
Tropilaelaps Beekeeper Preparedness Webinar Recording with Natasha Garcia-Andersen – hosted by Michigan State University Extension
Tropilealaps Mite Monitoring, Diagnosis, and Management Webinar Recording with Jenna Crowder and James Fulton – hosted by Michigan State University Extension
Navigating the Mite Spectrum in Honey Bee Colonies: From Harmful Tropilaelaps to Harmless Counterparts – Washington State University Extension
Found in Translation: Tropilaelaps and Co. by Jay Evans – Bee Culture
The Auburn Series: How the Auburn University Bee Center is Thinking About Tropilaelaps vs. Varroa Mites by Dan Aurell – Bee Culture
Expert Talks on Tropilaelaps Mites webinar recording – Apimondia Federation and partners
Episode 188: Tropilaelaps – podcast episode by Two Bees in a Podcast
Tropilaelaps: What Beekeepers Need to Know – webinar recording with Samuel Ramsey
Tropilaelaps the WORST mite of HONEY BEES – video with Humberto Boncristiani from Inside the Hive TV
Tropilaelaps Infestation of Honey Bees – case definition publication by U.S. Department of Agriculture
Featured Creatures Tropilaelaps mite – publication from University of Florida
Varroa mite and Tropilaelaps mite – slide from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
First report of established mite populations, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, in Europe – publication from Journal of Apicultural Research

Acknowledgements

This article was published in collaboration with the Managed Pollinator Protection Working Group.

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Crop Protection and Pest Management Program through the North Central IPM Center (2022-70006-38001).

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