ID please

[willowjay]

Hi - I was walking over the fields this morning and this bee caught my eye - are they eggs it's carrying on it's back? and who laid them? I fear a grizzly end



thanks

willowjay

[aeshna5]

The bee is Bombus lapidarius. They won't be bee eggs but I can't see clearly what they are- possibly phoretic mites which are often transported by insects

[willowjay]

If they are phoretic mites, will they stay with the bee when they hatch? It seems an awful lot for one poor insect. Are they parasites?

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Jay,

These are adult Mites. They are hanging on for transportation only in my opinion, and should be harmless in these numbers (problems should only occur if they gain in number and get to heavy/obstruct wings, etc.).

Take care,

Jason