Acarapis woodi is a microscopic parasitic mite that infests the airways of the honeybee. The first known infestation of the mites occurred in the British Isles in the early 20th century. First observed on the Isle of Wight in 1904, the mystery illness known as Isle of Wight Disease was not identified as caused by a parasite until 1921. It quickly spread to the rest of Great Britain. It was regarded as having wiped out the entire bee population of the isles (later genetic studies have found remnants that did survive) and dealt a devastating blow to British beekeeping. Brother Adam at the Buckfast Abbey developed a resistant hybrid bee known as the Buckfast bee, which is now available worldwide to combat acarine disease.
 

 
Scanning electron micrograph of an
Acarapis woodi tracheal mite.

Scanning electron micrograph of a
female mite in the honeybee tracheal tube.

Acarine mites, formerly known as tracheal mites are believed to have entered the US in 1984 via Mexico.

Mature female acarine mites leave the bee's airway and climb out on a hair of the bee where they wait until they can transfer to a young bee. Once on the new bee, they will move into the airways and begin laying eggs.

CONTROL AND TREATMENT:     Refer to Menthol