<P> The adults suck the `` blood '' ( hemolymph ) of adult honey bees for sustenance , leaving open wounds and transmitting diseases and viruses . The compromised adult bees are more prone to infections . With the exception of some resistance in the Russian strains and bees that have Varroa sensitive hygiene ( about 10 % of colonies naturally have it ) , the European Apis mellifera bees are almost completely defenseless against these parasites . ( Russian honey bees are one - third to one - half less susceptible to mite reproduction ) . </P>
which life stage of the honey bee is most commonly fed upon by the varroa mite
adult