> My understanding is that a foundress mite will first produce a sterile,
> male mite. Once the male mite hits reproductive age, the mother mite will
> mate with the son, laying fertilized female daughter mites. If my
> understanding is incorrect, please let me know.

According to Zachary Huang's "Varroa Mite Reproductive Biology", varroa 
mites have a spermatheca, just like honey bee queens, and store sperm. 
They only mate once. The mother mite does not mate with her son. In fact 
the son (first offspring) isn't sexually mature before the second 
offspring (daughter egg) is laid.

Randall Austin

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