Braula coeca is a wingless fly that is very common in colonies here in the
UK. It rides on the backs of workers and especially the queen who often
carries 5 or 6
of them. They are reddy brown in colour and about the size of a pin head .
They
do no harm to the bees, existing by steeling food as it is passed between
bees.
Their eggs are laid in the cappings of honey and the lava produce thread
like
tunnels across the face of the comb, which can be a problem if your trying
to
produce comb honey.
We are still in the grips of winter here in the UK so there would be little
chance of
filming for a month or two.
 
Regards
Joe Trattle
Norfolk ,England.
 
> Can anyone suggest a species that we can use that would look similar to
>  the honey bee, but have phoretic mites that were not destructive.
 
> There is another bee mite (the bee louse actually) that does no harm
> whatsoever to the bee.  You may be able to use it, although I have no
> idea where you will find photos or specimens.