Virus diseases are known in only a few mites, namely, the citrus red mite and the European
red mite. In both cases, non-occluded viruses play an important role in the regulation of
mite populations in citrus and peach orchards, respectively, but application of these viruses
as biological control agents does not seem feasible. A putative iridovirus has been observed
in association with Varroa mites in moribund honeybee colonies. The virus is probably also
pathogenic for honeybees and may be transmitted to them through this parasitic mite.
F