Mites in honeybee trachea, light micrograph. This trachea (airway) of a honeybee (Apis mellifera) is infested with honeybee tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi). These mites use their mouthparts to pierce the tracheal walls and feed on haemolymph, the blood-like substance that bathes the bee's cells and organs. This causes acarine disease, a lethargy that renders the bees incapable of flight, and can kill entire colonies.