I assume it is a mite - if I am mistaken, please correct me. After my mason bees hatched this season, I found hundreds of these mites on them. I presume they are parasitic? Would they infect the cocoons too or would they drop off the host and die during the winter?
The problem
The problem closer...
Bringing out the big guns to get even closer as these mites are really tiny - above photo was done at approx. 3:1 magnification.
Mite,20x,POL+LP, HF B+C
Mite,20x,FLUO-C6.1, HF B+C
Mite claw, 60x/1.2, DIC, HF A+B+C
Please ID this mite [ID: Chaetodactylidae]
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
Please ID this mite [ID: Chaetodactylidae]
Last edited by pwnell on Tue Apr 17, 2018 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Bees and mites
I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of the causes of colony collapse. This infestation looks like it would sap the strength of any bee.
Mike
Mike
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA