Red Tailed Bee with parasites

[brianholland]

My wife took a photograph of a bee in our garden but when I got it on the computer I noticed that it had parasites on it's thorax - rather like ticks.

Would love to know more about the parasites if some one with more knowledge than myself can help please?

Thank you



Hope I have done this correctly.

Brian well into OAP territory!!

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Brian,

These mites at such low numbers shouldn't be a problem. I can't see them too well, but I doubt it's a parasite. Yes, just mites I believe. The bee looks like the Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius. Probably a queen seeking a nest site.

Take care,

Jason

[PMG]

Hi Brian as well as reply to your pm I decided to answer this thread which wikll bring it into view again on the side bar - but if not you casn still search for yoour thread in the way I said in my pm to you! Don't lose heart
Also I have tracked your photo down to Unidentified insects - as I said via the last blue box named Images .........

Pauline

[brianholland]

Originally Posted by PMG

Hi Brian as well as reply to your pm I decided to answer this thread which wikll bring it into view again on the side bar - but if not you casn still search for yoour thread in the way I said in my pm to you! Don't lose heart
Also I have tracked your photo down to Unidentified insects - as I said via the last blue box named Images .........

Pauline

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond - appreciated,

Life rather hectic at the moment so bit fraught - sorry.
Brian.

[brianholland]

Originally Posted by brianholland

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond - appreciated,

Life rather hectic at the moment so bit fraught - sorry.
Brian.

Hi it's me again.
I am hopelessly lost as I have uploaded a few Mystery Insects to the Unidentified Insects forum hoping for assistance but I cannot find the postings so I have no idea if they are showing.
They were accepted.
You know my feelings about WAB being complicated - here is another example as far as I am concerned.
Sorry to bother you but maybe you can help.

Regards,

Brian hoping for warmer weather!!!

[Jason Green]

Evening Brian,

Here they are:


Possibly Opomyzidae family.


Probably Limoniidae family - a Cranefly.


Empididae, Empis tesselata


I'll get back to you, but it is from the Chrysomeloidea superfamily.

[brianholland]

So many thanks as you have help enormously. I have amended the titles on my my wifes flckr page where unfortunatly there are a few more unidentfied.
Margaret the Novice
Your knowledge on this subject is impressive but I will try not to trpuble you too much but my insect books have limited value.
I look up each of our suggestions on the net and you are spot on - well done - I am impressed.
Brian.

[JRsbugs]

The first fly is Sciomyzidae, could be Tetanocera arrogans but they are a difficult lot and I don't know enough to say for sure.

Diptera.info - Photo Albums: Sciomyzidae

Janet

[Gerel]

Your purple chap looks like a reed beetle (family Donaciinae) to me. Possibly Plateumaris sericea which comes in a variety of colours.

Steve

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

The first fly is Sciomyzidae, could be Tetanocera arrogans but they are a difficult lot and I don't know enough to say for sure.

Ah, Scio looks better, thanks for the correction - I was thinking along the lines of Opomyza, partially on account of the far-mounted arista on the antennae and darkened wing patches.

Still, aren't Tetanocera supposed to have a darkened leading-edge to the wings? As you say though, they're a tough lot!

- Good choice Steve, Reed Beetle looks good (for the record, Donacinae is a sub-family of Chrysomelidae - I just couldn't decide yesterday if it was a Cerambycid or Chrysomelid; both of which are Chrysomeloidea super.).