True or False: Varroa mites prefer worker brood over drone brood.

Varroa mites are known to be particularly attracted to drone brood rather than worker brood. The primary reason for this preference is that drone larvae take longer to develop than worker larvae, which gives the mites a longer period to reproduce and feed on the developing bee. The extended developmental time of drones, approximately 24 days compared to about 21 days for workers, creates a more favorable environment for the mites to thrive.

While Varroa mites can infest worker brood, their reproductive success is significantly higher when they infest drone brood. This is an important consideration in beekeeping management, as a high presence of drones in a colony can lead to increased Varroa populations, which can threaten the overall health of the bee colony. Consequently, the notion that Varroa mites prefer worker brood is inaccurate, leading to a classification of the statement as false.