Tropilaelaps Explained

Tropilaelaps is a genus of parasitic mites in the family Laelapidae.^[1] Their range spans the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their primary hosts are the larva of Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa, although after Apis mellifera was imported to Asia, they were found to also be suitable hosts for two species of Tropilaelaps, T. clareae and T. mercedesae.^[2] Species can be identified by DNA analysis. They are considered a major economic threat to the beekeeping industry.^[3]

Tropilaelaps are ectoparasites that reduce the lifespans of individual bees and reduce their overall health and wellbeing by depriving them of nutrients(5). Evidence of tropilaelaps presence in a hive might include deformed wings or legs on honey bees(5). The University of Maryland Honey Bee Lab is currently monitoring the spread of this parasite outside of its native range and into the United States.

Species

^[4]

• Tropilaelaps mercedesae Delfinado & Baker, 1961
• Tropilaelaps clareae Delfinado & Baker, 1961
• Tropilaelaps koenigerum Delfinado-Baker & Baker, 1982
• Tropilaelaps thaii Anderson & Morgan, 2007

References

^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: David Evans Walter . Laelapidae Species Listing . Biology Catalog . . August 31, 2010. (dead link 28 June 2019)
2. Web site: Lab Test Rapidly IDs Potential Mite Pest of Honey Bees . Porterfield . Andrew . EntomologyToday . Entomological Society of America . 2021-02-25 . 2021-02-26 .
3. Rapid Identification of Tropilaelaps Mite (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) Species Using a COI Barcode-HRM . Journal of Economic Entomology . 2021-01-27 . Del Cont . Aurélie . De Georges . Benjamin . Huleux . Anthea . Duquesne . Veronique . 114 . 2 . 520–529 . 10.1093/jee/toaa330 . 33503242 . free .
4. Web site: Morphological identification of Tropilaelaps spp. (adult form) (OIE method) . ANSES . Sophia Antipolis Laboratory . 2015-09-21 . 2021-02-26 .
5. Web site: USDA . December 2023 . Tropilaelaps Infestation of Honey Bees . May 3, 2024.