Varroa mite infestations are the primary welfare challenge in managed honeybee colonies, causing progressive colony collapse when untreated and requiring management approaches that balance treatment efficacy with bee welfare.
Varroa mites cause direct physical harm through feeding on developing bees, and the viruses they transmit cause deformities and behavioral changes that reduce individual bee welfare. Untreated infestations lead to colony collapse — the death of tens of thousands of individual bees in each colony. Responsible beekeeping that monitors and treats varroa prevents this welfare crisis, while the choice of treatment method affects both the mites and the bees being treated.