Braulidae

Braula coeca

The bee lice ( Braulidae ) are a family of two-winged flies (Diptera ); within this they are assigned to the flies ( Brachycera ). Worldwide, only seven species of bee lice are known, of which only Braula coeca in Central Europe. The animals are tiny. They reach a height of about 1-1.5 millimeters and parasitize mainly on honey bees.

The bee lice are adapted by their small size and various other features perfect for the stay in the fur of bees. The body is very flat and hairy, wings and halteres ( halteres ) are missing the animals. A separate neck or waist are not present, causing the body seems a bit clunky. The eyes are only rudimentary and the mouthparts very short. They only serve for absorbing liquid food regurgitation, the bees. The legs are short and remarkably thickened, with especially the last tarsus is broadened and is equipped with a comb to hold.

The bees live lice in the fur of bees, primarily the Queen. Here they eat with, especially when food exchange with other bees and when feeding the queen and beg the workers directly to. Usually, the infection is rather unproblematic by bees lice, only for very heavy infestation the laying performance of the Queen is affected.

The propagation time of the bee lice is in the summer. Not much is known about the mating, the eggs are deposited on the inside of the wax cover on the inside of honey cells. The larval galleries eat through the honeycomb walls and lid, where they probably feed on pollen and honey admixed. Digestion of the wax may be possible by symbionts, but questionable. Pupation of about two millimeters long larvae also takes place in the hive.