Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: TheHoneyPump on July 17, 2020, 01:31:48 pm

Title: Interesting tiny critters
Post by: TheHoneyPump on July 17, 2020, 01:31:48 pm

Here is a link to a short video.  Wondering if anyone here knows what these are or have a means to identify them. 
Tiny critters running around on the pull out drawer under the screened bottom board of a strong hive.  The debris is pollen dust, wax bits, and bee chunks.  I am assuming these are just a symbiotic cleanup crew of sorts.  My first thoughts are clover mites - spider mites.  But perhaps is something else more interesting.  I am not worried about them, just curious.

Whatcha think deez argh?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17tAfNB6XD9NKllxBIAl5OLT3H8g_PPN7/view?usp=sharing

Title: Re: Interesting tiny critters
Post by: Ben Framed on July 17, 2020, 02:25:18 pm

HP I am assuming by your description,  these are only in the bottom area.  I for one have no clue. What is just as interesting is I would have thought you have seen it all by now. Which really makes this a mystery. I really want to know what these critters are also! lol

Title: Re: Interesting tiny critters
Post by: TheHoneyPump on July 17, 2020, 03:24:13 pm

      :rolleyes:

I am pretty sure they are a variant of the common Clover Mite. 
Casting and fishing to see if anyone has any other ideas or thoughts on it, or specific positive identification, please let us know.

Wouldn't it be great and wonderful if they were actually this? !!
https://tryptomera-roofmijt.nl/raubmilben-und-varroamilben-in-bienenstocke/

Title: Re: Interesting tiny critters
Post by: Ben Framed on July 17, 2020, 04:37:05 pm

Yes I agree I hope this is what you see. 😁 Mr Hp, this sounds like GREAT news. I have up until now heard of a predatory mite which battles Varroa Destructor, this looks promising to say the least! I appreciate you posting this! Thank you!

Title: Re: Interesting tiny critters
Post by: van from Arkansas on July 17, 2020, 07:51:30 pm

Wondering if anyone here knows what these are or have a means to identify them. 

Hi HP.  Interesting lil critters.  To answer your question regarding identification here are some basics I was taught in zoology.

1.  Number of legs: 6 equals insect whereas 8 equals arachnid.  Now we have a phylum.
2.  Head throax and abdomen:  each 3 sections distinct like a bee, joined together like a spider with huge abdomen whereas throax and head seem joined together.  Now you determine sub phyla and perhaps genus.
3.  Segment body like earthworm or smooth body as round worm: aschlementes Sp? or nematodes.
4.  Distinct eyes, antennae, mandibles, etc...

Don?t think I helped much, but this is a start for basic identification.
Cheers

Oh almost forgot!!!  HP: I adore the pic of the moose in the canola field.

Van