Varroa in Central America?

On 6 May 1988 a swarm of bees was discovered and destroyed on a ship in Port Everglades, Florida. The vessel had come direct from Guatemala and Honduras. The swarm was found to consist of European honeybees but was heavily infested with Varroa mites. In a follow-up investigation by Plant USDA Protection and Quarantine the ship’s officers and crew were interviewed and they confirmed that the Swarm of bees was on the vessel when they were in port in Honduras. It is likely that the Varroa infested swarm originated in either Guatemala or Honduras and the appropriate authorities have been informed. Varroa has never up to now been reported from Central America.

Source: PPQ - APHIS - USDA