Varroa mites in the wild are a big deal. They are very troublesome with European honeybees, esp. those kept in Langstroth hives. In the wild, bees swarm regularly, and any time they swarm and form a new hive, the new hive not only rids itself of parasites but increases the genetic diversity that is needed to deal with pest resistance. The methods of modern beekeeping work diligently to prevent this. In the 20 years since the article you first linked to was written, more careful/extensive study of wild/feral bee populations has shown how they are better adapted to deal with this pest, which is a very important development in our knowledge of the issue. They aren't a smokescreen put up by pesticide companies, but they are a greater problem as a result of modern practices that limit natural behaviors and natural evolutionary responses that reduce the impact of the mites in wild and feral populations.