author(s)
Poorna Chandra S, Srinivas Reddy KM, Chinnamade Gowda C and Eswarappa G

abstract
The mite fauna associated with Apis cerana colonies was recorded during September 2019 to March 2020 at three different locations of Southern Karnataka which are belongs to three different agro-climatic zones of Karnataka. The study revealed the association of total 12 species of mite fauna from three locations. Phoretic mite, Neocypholaelaps indica Evans was found most abundant than other mites followed by ectoparasitic mite, Varroa Jacobsoni Oudemans. The remaining ten species were scavengers. Despite of different ecological conditions, incidence of N. indica in A. cerana colonies was found in all the locations. Higher incidence of N. indica was observed during September to December 2019 at all the three locations. Further, our study also revealed the infestation of N. indica on the body surface of three honeybee species foraging on niger during post monsoon season, but infestation of N. indica on those honeybees were not found during summer season.