Assessment of Varroa destructor infestation rate in honey bee colonies from some areas of eastern Libya

Abstract

Varroa destructor is one of the most important ectoparasites affecting honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies worldwide and monitoring its infestation rate is essential for evaluating colony health and improving management practices. This study aimed to assess the infestation rate of V. destructor and investigate its variation among honey bee colonies from some areas of eastern Libya. Adult worker bee samples were collected from 22 honey bee colonies distributed among three study areas: Shahat, Qasr Libya, and South Al-Abyar (Al-Khrouba and Al-Jahishiya), during May and early June 2026. A total of 4,137 adult worker bees were examined using the alcohol wash method, and infestation rates were calculated based on the number of recovered mites relative to the number of examined bees. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Kruskal–Wallis test to compare infestation rates among the study areas. The overall mean infestation rate was 4.01 ± 5.14%, with mean values of 2.88 ± 3.12% in Qasr Libya, 4.73 ± 1.72% in Shahat, and 4.44 ± 7.23% in South Al-Abyar. The highest individual infestation value was recorded in South Al-Abyar (24.4%). However, no statistically significant differences were detected among the three study areas (χ² = 2.37, df = 2, P = 0.305). The observed variation among colonies suggests that infestation levels may be influenced by colony-specific and management-related factors rather than geographical location alone. These findings confirm the presence of V. destructor in the studied areas and highlight the importance of regular colony monitoring and appropriate management strategies to maintain honey bee colony health. Further studies incorporating seasonal monitoring and broader geographic coverage are recommended to improve understanding of Varroa population dynamics in Libyan apiaries.