Tropilaelosis is a parasitic disease of honey bee brood caused by haemophagous mites of the genus Tropilaelaps. Non-domesticated giant Asian honey bees Apis dorsata, Apis breviligula and Apis laboriosa are native hosts to Tropilaelaps mites. These mites spread into the managed European honey bee (Apis mellifera) after human had introduced Apis mellifera into Asia. There are four species in the genus Tropilaelaps. Two species: Tropilaelaps clareae and Tropilaelaps mercedesae are damaging pests of European honey bee. The other two species: Tropilaelaps koenigerum and Tropilaelaps thaii appear to be harmless to Apis mellifera. Tropilaelaps mite infestation causes severe damage to honey bee larvae and pupae (brood malformation), death of young bees and a subsequent colony decline. Although tropilaelosis still remains confined to Asia, it is recognized as emerging threat to world apiculture. Therefore, tropilaelosis is on the list of serious diseases which endanger the whole world, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. This thesis provides a current knowledge in the main fields of Tropilaelaps spp. research, including the biology of mites, damage on the honey bee brood and colonies, early diagnostic methods, control measures and prevention of tropilaelosis.