The mite, V. destructor is one of the most destructive pests
of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) worldwide (Rosenkranz
et al. 2010). Varroa mite has two haplotypes that are able
to reproduce successfully on A. mellifera; the Japan-type is
relatively non-virulent whereas the Korea-type, is extremely
virulent (Anderson and Trueman 1998; Anderson 2000). In
Saudi Arabia, the mite was first reported in 1987 (AlGhamdi
1990), perhaps through a shipment of introduced honeybees
from Egypt, the usual package bee supplier of Saudi Arabia.

To understand annual survival rates or losses in
honey bee colonies, Apis mellifera L., under hot and
dry regions, the ecosystem impact on the indigenous
and exotic subspecies should be highly focused. Ecological
limitations such as drought, severe ambient
summer temperatures, Varroa mite infestation levels,
improper use of pesticides, and inadequate management
practices comprise the most obvious influences
on beekeeping in this region (Alattal et al., 2014b; Alghamdi
et al., 2013; Alqarni et al., 2011; Ali, 2011). In

The majority of lavender species are indigenous
to the mountainous regions of the western Mediterranean
countries, the islands of the Atlantic,
Turkey, Pakistan, and India (Chu and Kemper, 2001).
Moreover, they are native to northern, eastern, and
southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Bulgaria, and
Russia (Boning, 2010).
Lavender species survive, and can thrive, in arid
and semi-arid regions of the world, even in areas
threatened by desertification (Azcón and Barea,
1997). It is known as extremely drought resistant