Ontogenesis of the parasitic miteVarroa jacobsonion Syrian Honey Bees,Apis mellifera syriaca

The reproductive behaviour of the mite Varroa jacobsoni was investigated during the summer months in Apis mellifera syriaca colonies in Irbid, Jordan. Reproductive rates for mites reaching adulthood were estimated by examining the progeny of the female mother mites in worker and drone cells. The proportions of non-reproducing mites in the worker and drone brood were 9.8% and 4.9%, respectively. The reproductive rate was 2.72 for mites in worker cells and 3.35 for mites in drone cells. The percentage of infested brood with adult mite daughters was 43.9 % for worker and 55% for drone broods. The rate for females reaching adulthood from each original female mite was 0.75 for worker and 1.41 for drone brood.