Honeybee (Apis mellifera), near center of frame, with varroa mite (Varroa jacobsoni) attached to its thorax. These mites are parasites that feed off the body fluids of adult, pupal and larval bees. They are also carriers of a virus that damages the bees. Varrora mites are responsible for wiping out entire honeybee colonies. They are arachnids, a class of arthropods that include spiders.