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Bee Louse, Bee Fly, Braulid, Braula coeca Nitzsch (Insecta: Diptera: Braulidae)

James D. Ellis, Ashley N. Mortensen, and C. M. Zettel Nalen

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

Introduction

The bee louse, Braula coeca Nitzsch, is a wingless fly that lives as a commensalist in western honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, colonies. Biology of Braula has been studied irregularly since the 1920s. Braula is presumed to be harmless to its host, though this point is debatable, and some countries recommend Braula. However, Braula probably poses a minimal threat to the beekeeping industry because no economic damage can be attributed to it.

Figure 1. An adult Braula coeca on the dorsal aspect of a worker honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, thorax.
Figure 1.  An adult Braula coeca on the dorsal aspect of a worker honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, thorax.
Credit: UF/IFAS Honey Bee Lab

 

Distribution

Braula has an extensive global distribution, being documented in Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia (Tasmania), North America, and South America (Smith and Carron 1985). The species probably was brought into the United States on imported honey bee queens, although the exact year is unknown (Philips 1925).

Figure 2. The worldwide distribution (red colored areas) of the bee louse, Braula coeca Nitzsch.
Figure 2.  The worldwide distribution (red colored areas) of the bee louse, Braula coeca Nitzsch.
Credit: Ellis and Munn (2005)

 

Description

Eggs

Eggs are white, oval shaped, and have two lateral flanges. The flanges are flat and extend parallel to each other toward the long axis of the egg. The eggs range from 0.78–0.81 mm in length and 0.28–0.33 mm wide excluding the flanges, and average 0.84 × 0.42 mm (l × w) with the flanges.

Larvae

Larvae are maggot-like in appearance, with the posterior end appearing flattened, while the anterior end is pointed. Braula larvae are very small and difficult to see with the unaided eye. A diagnosis usually is made based on comb damage.

Pupae

Pupae are white/yellowish and range from 1.4–1.7 mm in length and 0.5–0.75 mm wide.

Adults

Adult Braula are <1.5 mm long and covered in spine-like hairs. They do not have the wings or halteres possessed by most flies. Braula are reddish-brown in color and regularly are misdiagnosed as varroa mites, Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman, due to their similar appearance. One notable difference useful as a field diagnosis to distinguish between varroa mites (mites) and Braula (insects) is that Braula, have six legs while adult varroa mites have eight legs. Further, the adult Braula has a rounded appearance while varroa mites are more compressed and oval. Despite these differences, both are very small and difficult to distinguish with the unaided eye.

Figure 3. Dorsal views of an adult bee louse, Braula coeca Nitzsch, (left); and an adult varroa mite, Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman, (right). Varroa mites are more oval in shape, and have eight legs as compared to the bee louse, which has six legs.
Figure 3.  Dorsal views of an adult bee louse, Braula coeca Nitzsch, (left); and an adult varroa mite, Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman, (right). Varroa mites are more oval in shape, and have eight legs as compared to the bee louse, which has six legs.
Credit: Bee louse—UF/IFAS; Varroa mite—Scott Bauer, USDA

The eyes of adult Braula are located just above the antennae. They appear as pale spots on the surface of the cuticle and are surrounded by pigmented chitinous rings. The terminal joint of the 5-segmented tarsus is divided and modified with comb-like teeth, an adaptation that allows the fly to cling to the hairs of honey bees. The thorax is very short, less than half as long as the head, and often is mistaken for an abdominal segment. The scutellum is absent.

Figure 4. A scanning electron microscope photograph of a dorsal view of a Braula coeca tarsus showing the comb-shaped row of spines, or claw, important in clinging to the branched hairs of the honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus.
Figure 4.  A scanning electron microscope photograph of a dorsal view of a Braula coeca tarsus showing the comb-shaped row of spines, or claw, important in clinging to the branched hairs of the honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus.
Credit: W. J. Humphreys, University of Georgia

 

Life Cycle and Behavior

Braula adults often are found on the heads of honey bee workers, drones, and especially queens. While on the head of its host bee, Braula will feed on food from the mouth of its host as the host is fed by another bee or is feeding another bee. There is some evidence that adult Braula can induce regurgitation from bees by stroking the upper edge of a bee's labrum until the bee extends its tongue. Then the Braula feeds on food or other secretions that the bee offers.

Female Braula can oviposit many places in the hive (empty cells, brood cappings, debris on the floor) but only eggs oviposited on honey cappings will hatch. Egg incubation periods range from 2 to 7.4 days, depending on the season. Upon emergence from their eggs, Braula larvae construct a tunnel under the cell cappings. This visible tunnel is the most noticeable hive damage attributed to Braula. Although some consider this damage, it is only aesthetic damage and of minor economic importance. Regardless, the intersecting tunnels are a common sign of Braula infestation. It is believed that Braula larvae feed on honey and pollen residues encountered while tunneling under the cell cappings.

Larvae of the Braula undergo three developmental instars. These range from 7.1 to 10.8 days in length. After completing the third instar, the larvae develop into prepupae, a stage that can last from 1 to 2.7 days. During this time, the prepupa has a creamy-white appearance and is enclosed in the larval skin. The life cycle begins again as the adult Braula emerges.

Management

Braula probably poses a minimal threat to the beekeeping industry because no economic damage can be attributed to its damage. There are very few recommendations for Braula control, largely because it is not considered a major honey bee pest.

Selected References

Morse RA, Flottum K. (eds.) 1998. Honey Bee Pests, Predators, and Diseases. 3rd edition. Medina, OH: A.I. Root Company.

Philips EF. 1925. The Bee-louse, Braula coeca in the United States. USDA Circular 334.

Smith Jr. IB. 1978. The bee louse, Braula coeca Nitzsch, its distribution and biology on honey bees. Unpublished MS thesis, University of Maryland. 111 pp.

Smith Jr. IB, Caron DM. 1985. "Distribution of the beelouse, Braula coeca, in Maryland and worldwide." American Bee Journal 125: 294–96.

Publication #EENY472

Release Date:April 5th, 2019

Reviewed At:June 16th, 2022

Related Experts

Zettel Nalen, Catherine M

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University of Florida

Ellis, James D.

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University of Florida

Related Topics

  • Critical Issue: Agricultural and Food Systems
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About this Publication

This document is EENY472, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date April 2010. Revised June 2016 and March 2019. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. This document is also available on the Featured Creatures website at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures.

About the Authors

James D. Ellis, professor; Ashley N. Mortensen, former graduate student; and C. M. Zettel Nalen, former Extension assistant; Entomology and Nematology Department; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Amy Vu
  • James Ellis