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10-Minute Presentation

Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

10-min: PBT, Honey Bee and Social Insects Toxicology and Physiology

Kleptocytosis: A novel parasitic strategy for accelerated reproduction via host protein stealing in Varroa destructor

Tuesday, November 11, 2025
4:00 PM - 4:12 PM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, F151, OCC
Oral Presentation
Rapid reproduction is among the most significant adaptations underpinning the success of Varroa destructor. To exploit their honey bee host, the parasite must produce offspring that fully develop into adults and mate in an inflexible nine-day window. Failure to meet this deadline brings the foundress mite’s fitness to zero​,​ establishing heavy evolutionary pressure to accelerate reproduction and subsequent development of offspring. We analyzed the energy present in Varroa mites, their eggs, their frass, and the honey bee fat body tissue they consume via bomb calorimetry. Through Dynamic Energy Budget modelling we found that Varroa have a substantially higher reproductive rate than is expected given their metabolism. Via Native-PAGE, we detected that nine proteins found in honey bee fat body tissue accumulate intact in the foundress mite’s eggs. We analyzed​ samples of​ honey bee fat body and Varroa ​eggs​ via HPLC MS/MS to identify the host proteins. We detected honey bee egg yolk precursors in the large lipid transfer protein superfamily, in addition to hexamerin storage proteins​,​ and miscellaneous motor/transfer proteins integral to embryonic development. Varroa cannot produce some of these proteins and instead employ kleptoparasitism on a molecular level to provision their developing ova, a pathway not described in any other host/parasite relationship. This system appears to be selective as several proteins from their host meal did not accumulate in the eggs. ​Better​​​ understanding of this pathway presents an attractive target for Varroa management as a treatment would only need to delay development of the mite to render reproduction unsuccessful.