Are these mites on mason bee?

Susie · #1 (**permalink**) 22-04-2010, 06:53 PM

Photographing an emerging bee another bee was captured. It seems to have something on it's back, can anyone identify what it is, please?

Apologies for the poor quality of the image.

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 22-04-2010, 07:12 PM

Evening Susie,

Yes, Mites - the bee should be OK so long as they don't get too numbersome! I've been watching my own RMB colony today, in a set of canes like yours. Lovely bees, it's great to know these are breeding in our gardens! (sorry, I assume it's your garden?! )

Take care,

Jason

Susie · #3 (**permalink**) 22-04-2010, 08:38 PM

Many thanks for the id, Jason, much appreciated.

Yes, they are in my garden and are thriving. They nest in every available hole include the screw holes in the garden hose holder

Plenty of mining bees in the garden too, plus oodles of parasites. There seems to have been an explosion in bee fly numbers this year and lots of cuckoo bees too. Fascinating stuff