Bee with mites

[matt_xyz]

I came across this bee in my garden the other day and was shocked to see the number of mites on its back. Is this a Red Mason Bee - Osmia rufa? In another recent thread I see to recall Eucera saying that the mites generally hitch a ride rather than act as parasites but I still wonder what the prognosis is for this bee given the number of mites on its back.





Matt

[Wild-Woman]

Oh blimey that looks horrible. Poor old bee. A very interesting capture all the same. I expect Eucera will have an explanation as to why such a heavy mite load.

[Meta menardi]

Just trying to think logically, parasites can't kill the host, as they also die. What do bee mites live on , someone will know. That load can't be chomping on one bee.

[Kayleigh]

I think I read somewhere on here they only hitch a lift to the plants. I don't think they paratise the bee. I could be wrong

[eucera]

Parasites can kill hosts (think of things like Malaria parasites), but of course, it isn't in the parasite's interest to do itself out of a home

These mites are supposed to be phoretic (hitch-hikers). I guess they can scavenge pollen and other nest debris.

I can't imagine that it is healthy for a bee to be overloaded with them - it would make flying tricky

[JonSadler]

Matt,

That's a fantastic picture. Were you using the canon lens? Any what is it the flash?

Wonder the poor thing can fly with all those uninvited guests on board.

Regards
Jon

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by JonSadler

Matt,

That's a fantastic picture. Were you using the canon lens? Any what is it the flash?

Wonder the poor thing can fly with all those uninvited guests on board.

Regards
Jon

Cheap airline? Megajet, or whatever.

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by JonSadler

Matt,

That's a fantastic picture. Were you using the canon lens? Any what is it the flash?

Wonder the poor thing can fly with all those uninvited guests on board.

Regards
Jon

Thanks Jon. I was using a Canon MPE-65 macro lens with a Speedlight 580 flash.

Thanks for the other replies. I was beginning to think that the bee couldn't actually fly, it certainly seemed sluggish, but then it did manage to fly off.

Matt