Tropilaelaps mercedesae mites
Mites in the genus Tropilaelaps (such as T. mercedesae shown here) could follow in the footsteps of Varroa mites as significant threats to honey bees if they were to expand their range. A new test using analysis of the “melt curves” of DNA samples can discern the four known Tropilaelaps species and could be an important tool in surveillance for the mite pests in apicultural settings. (Photo by Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org)