Varroa

The Varroa is a mite that feeds on bees
It lives on their bodies and inside their cells
It causes diseases and weakens their health
It spreads around the world and threatens their wealth

The Varroa has many species, but one is the worst
It's called Varroa destructor, and it lives on Apis mellifera
This bee is also known as the western honey bee
It makes the honey that we love to eat

The Varroa came from Asia, where it lived on Apis cerana
This bee is also called the eastern honey bee
It has some defenses against the parasite
It can groom itself and remove the mite

But Apis mellifera has no such skill
It cannot fight the Varroa with its will
It needs the help of humans to survive
We have to treat the hives and keep them alive

The Varroa is a menace to the bees
It lives on their blood and makes them weak
It is a challenge that we have to face
We have to save the bees and protect their place.

You are a tiny creature, a speck of reddish brown
You have eight little legs, and you cling to your host
You feed on their fat body, and you transmit disease
You are the Varroa mite, the scourge of the honey bees

You came from Asia, where you lived in harmony
With the Apis cerana, who could resist your harm
But then you jumped to Apis mellifera, who had no defense
And you spread across the world, causing havoc and distress

You are the Varroa mite, you are a parasite
You multiply in the brood cells, where the bees cannot fight
You weaken their immune system, and you open the door
For viruses and bacteria, that make them suffer more

You are the Varroa mite, you are a challenge
For the beekeepers who try to save their precious hives
They use chemicals and treatments, they use hygiene and breeding
But you are hard to eradicate, you are always adapting

You are the Varroa mite, you are a mystery
How do you find your victims, with your senses so keen?
How do you survive the winter, when the bees are dormant?
How do you cope with the heat, when the bees are swarming?

You are the Varroa mite, you are a wonder
You have a complex life cycle, and a remarkable anatomy
You have a piercing mouthpart, and a flattened body shape
You have a dorsal shield, and a ventral sucker plate

You are the Varroa mite, you are a poem
You inspire me to write these verses, even though I don't like you
You are a fascinating creature, even though you are a pest
You are the Varroa mite, and this is my ode to you.