Summary
A flat, reddish varroa mite rides on honeybees and feeds on them, spreading disease through a whole hive. Deep Look shows how this tiny parasite is built to cling to bees and threaten beekeeping everywhere.
Viewer safety
Deep Look films tiny creatures in extreme macro close-up, so a squeamish class may find this one intense -- preview if that's a concern.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
A varroa mite has a flat, shield-shaped body and grippy legs that let it hide between a bee's body plates and hang on. It feeds on the bee and passes viruses from bee to bee -- one of the biggest problems facing honeybees today.
- How is a varroa mite's flat body useful for living on a bee?
- Why is a mite that spreads disease so dangerous to a whole hive?
- Why do people who keep bees worry about this tiny mite?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: mite, parasite, host, hive.
Try it: Draw a honeybee with a flat mite tucked against its body. Write how the mite's shape helps it hang on and harm the bee.