This study investigates the dietary preferences of *Varroa destructor* and *Tropilaelaps mercedesae*, two ectoparasitic mites that primarily feed on honey bees. The primary finding is that the diet of *V. destructor* depends on the life history stage of its host. During the dispersal stage, when feeding on adult bees, *V. destructor* primarily consumes the fat body, while during the reproductive stage, when feeding on honey bee pupae, they primarily consume hemolymph. This dietary specialization is supported by biostaining, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses. The proteome and metabolome differences between reproductive and dispersing *V. destructor* suggest that the hemolymph diet coincides with amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis in the foundresses, while the metabolism of non-reproductive adults is tuned to lipid metabolism. Similar dietary specialization is observed in *T. mercedesae*, which feeds exclusively on honey bee brood and has a reduced dispersal stage. The study highlights the importance of life history stage in determining the dietary preferences of ectoparasitic mites, which can have significant implications for their impact on honey bee health and the broader ecosystem.This study investigates the dietary preferences of *Varroa destructor* and *Tropilaelaps mercedesae*, two ectoparasitic mites that primarily feed on honey bees. The primary finding is that the diet of *V. destructor* depends on the life history stage of its host. During the dispersal stage, when feeding on adult bees, *V. destructor* primarily consumes the fat body, while during the reproductive stage, when feeding on honey bee pupae, they primarily consume hemolymph. This dietary specialization is supported by biostaining, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses. The proteome and metabolome differences between reproductive and dispersing *V. destructor* suggest that the hemolymph diet coincides with amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis in the foundresses, while the metabolism of non-reproductive adults is tuned to lipid metabolism. Similar dietary specialization is observed in *T. mercedesae*, which feeds exclusively on honey bee brood and has a reduced dispersal stage. The study highlights the importance of life history stage in determining the dietary preferences of ectoparasitic mites, which can have significant implications for their impact on honey bee health and the broader ecosystem.