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The ectoparasitic mite,  Varroa destructor , feeds directly on honey bees and serves as a vector for transmitting viruses among them. The  Varroa  mite causes relatively little damage to its natural host, the Eastern honey bee ( Apis cerana ) but it is the most devastating pest for the Western honey bee ( Apis mellifera ). Using Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology, we conducted a metatranscriptome analysis of the microbial community associated with  Varroa  mites. This study led to the identification of a new Chinese strain of  Varroa destructor  virus-2 (VDV-2), which is a member of the  Iflaviridae  family and was previously reported to be specific to  Varroa  mites. A subsequent epidemiological investigation of Chinese strain of VDV-2 (VDV-2-China) showed that the virus was highly prevalent among  Varroa  populations and was not identified in any of the adult workers from both  A. mellifera  and  A.   cerana  colonies distributed in six provinces in China, clearly indicating that VDV-2-China is predominantly a  Varroa -adapted virus. While  A. mellifera  worker pupae exposed to less than two  Varroa  mites tested negative for VDV-2-China, VDV-2-China was detected in 12.5% of the  A. mellifera  worker pupae that were parasitized by more than 10  Varroa  mites, bringing into play the possibility of a new scenario where VDV-2 could be transmitted to the honey bees during heavy  Varroa  infestations. Bioassay for the VDV-2-China infectivity showed that  A. cerana  was not a permissive host for VDV-2-China, yet  A. mellifera  could be a biological host that supports VDV-2-China’s replication. The different replication dynamics of the virus between the two host species reflect their variation in terms of susceptibility to the virus infection, posing a potential threat to the health of the Western honey bee. The information gained from this study contributes to the knowledge concerning genetic variabilities and evolutionary dynamics of Varroa-borne viruses, thereby enhancing our understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms governing honey bee Varroosis.

A New Strain of Virus Discovered in China Specific to the Parasitic Mite Varroa destructor Poses a Potential Threat to Honey Bees