Occurrence of multiple honeybee viruses in the ectoparasitic mites Varroa spp. in Apis cerana colonies

[Display omitted] •Viruses were surveyed in Varroa destructor and Varroa underwoodi in Apis cerana colonies.•Six RNA viruses were detected in V. destructor while five in V. underwoodi.•Apis mellifera filamentous virus was found in both V. destructor and V. underwoodi.•Multiple viruses in single ectoparasitic mite of A. cerana are common. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of honeybee viruses in Varroa destructor and Varroa underwoodi infesting Apis cerana colonies in China. Deformed wing virus (DWV) was the most prevalent virus in these two mite species, followed by Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) and Sacbrood virus (SBV) in V. destructor, while in V. underwoodi, it was followed by CBPV, AmFV, BQCV, IAPV and KBV. In addition, multiple viruses were commonly detectable in both mite species.