> Successful reproduction by unmated Tropilaelaps mercedesae is reported here for the first time. Of the eight mature daughters that did not have male mates within their natal cells, four produced both mature sons and daughters, and four produced mature daughters only.

> The ability of virgin females to lay both males and females (deuterotoky), and to reproduce without spending a phoretic period on adult bees may play major roles in tropilaelaps mites’ competitive advantage over varroa mites in Apis mellifera colonies.

> The results of this study may help explain the competitive advantage of tropilaelaps mites and why they are more successful parasites of A. mellifera than varroa mites in Asia. As far as dispersal is concerned, our observations suggest that even unmated tropilaelaps females can start a new population.

de Guzman, L.I., Phokasem, P., Khongphinitbunjong, K., Frake, A.M., Chantawannakul, P., Successful reproduction of unmated Tropilaelaps mercedesae and its implication on mite population growth in Apis mellifera colonies, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology (2018), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2018.02.010

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