Body measurements can be used to distinguish V. jacobsoni and V. destructor.
Body Length Body widthV. jacobsoni 1.06mm 1.50mm
V. destructor 1.16mm 1.70mmSource:
Zhi-Qiang Zhang (2000) see references and weblinksTheir curved bodies fit into abdominal folds of the adult bee and are held there by the shape and arrangement of ventral setae. This protects them from the bee's normal cleaning habits. Adult males are yellowish with lightly tanned legs and spherical body shape. The male chelicerae are modified for transferring sperm. The protonymph and deutonymph stages were described by Delfinado-Baker (1984).
Source:
M.T. Sanford, University of Florida; H.A. Denmark, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Plant Industry; H.L. Cromroy, University of Florida; and L. Cutts, FDACS, Division of Plant Industry. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/bees/varroa_mite.htm
