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Much has been made of the potential effects of neonics on honey bee neurological systems, and how they interfere with navigation leading to loss of bees. Actually, this is an expected symptom of varroa infestation as well, probably caused by the associated viral pathogens. Of course, these behaviors lead to a dispersal of sick bees, and the resulting dispersal of mites and viruses. In this way, the mites and viruses can potentially be assured of a supply of uninfected hosts.

> Varroa infestation does not always cause wing deformity. Adults may sometimes appear to be normal morphologically, but there are mite effects on adult bee behavior. In particular, mite-parasitized foragers display a decrease in learning capability, prolonged absences from the nest and a lower rate of return to the colony. A decrease in neuronal capacities involved in learning and navigation is a possible cause. -- Differential gene expression of the honey bee Apis mellifera associated with Varroa destructor infection. M Navajas. BMC Genomics 2008, 9:301

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