Colony-collapse-disorder
Guides
Apis
Honey Bees, Honeybees
Apis is a genus of eusocial bees comprising approximately 7–12 extant species, primarily distinguished by honey production, wax nest construction, and perennial colonial life cycles. The genus is endemic to Africa, Europe, and Asia, with all but one species (Apis mellifera) native to Asia. Species are categorized into three groups: giant honey bees (A. dorsata and relatives), dwarf honey bees (A. florea and A. andreniformis), and cavity-nesting honey bees (A. mellifera, A. cerana, and relatives). Apis species are critical pollinators of wild plants and agricultural crops, though research indicates they are rarely the most effective single-visit pollinators compared to wild bee taxa.
Apocephalus borealis
Zombie Fly, ZomBee Fly
Apocephalus borealis is a parasitoid phorid fly native to North America that attacks bumblebees, paper wasps, and European honey bees. The species gained attention in 2008 when researchers at San Francisco State University discovered it parasitizing honey bees in California. Infected bees exhibit aberrant behaviors including nocturnal flight, disorientation, and attraction to light sources, earning the flies the common name 'zombie flies' and infected bees the name 'zombees.' The fly may act as a vector for honey bee pathogens including deformed wing virus and Nosema ceranae.
Varroa
Varroa Mites
Varroa is a genus of parasitic mesostigmatan mites that are obligate ectoparasites of honey bees (Apis spp.). The genus contains four species, with Varroa destructor being the most significant pest of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) worldwide. Originally parasites of Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) in mainland Asia, these mites have spread globally through beekeeping activities. V. destructor is recognized as the most devastating pest of managed honey bees, causing colony losses through direct parasitism and by vectoring viruses such as deformed wing virus. The genus was named for Marcus Terentius Varro, a Roman scholar and beekeeper.
Varroidae
Varroidae is a family of parasitic mites in the order Mesostigmata, containing the economically significant genus Varroa. Members are obligate ectoparasites of honey bees (Apis spp.), with Varroa destructor being the most destructive species affecting managed European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies worldwide. These mites have a two-stage life cycle involving a phoretic traveling phase on adult bees and a reproductive phase within brood cells. The family has become a major focus of apicultural research due to the severe colony losses attributed to Varroa infestations, disease transmission, and the mites' role in honey bee population declines.