Please ID this mite [ID: Chaetodactylidae]

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:33 pm

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

GaryB · Post by **GaryB** » Tue Apr 17, 2018 7:42 pm

Chaetodactylidae
Here's a link:

http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/beemi ... ylidae.htm

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Tue Apr 17, 2018 8:50 pm

Wow okay that is it. So I am ... sc**d? Guess the bees will just have to live with these unwelcome parasites

Thanks for the ID. The link is awesome, but 50% of the terminology flies over my novice head

GaryB · Post by **GaryB** » Wed Apr 18, 2018 12:21 am

Yeah, the terminology is over my head too if that's any consolation. My heart sank when I read it but hopefully it won't be catastrophic. That looks like a heavy infestation.

JH · Post by JH » Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:03 pm

Very interesting!
Best regards
Jörgen Hellberg

Jacek · Post by **Jacek** » Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:08 pm

Very nice photos. Poor bees

Olympusman · Post by **Olympusman** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 12:50 pm

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

vasselle · Post by **vasselle** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 3:24 pm

Bonjour
Very nice

Please ID this mite [ID: Chaetodactylidae]

Please ID this mite [ID: Chaetodactylidae]

Bees and mites