I read in the latest Bees for Development Journal (always first with the  
news!) that there is a newly recorded parasitic fly of honeybees in South 
East  Asia.  The scientific name is Physocephala paralleliventris. They were  
noticed in a bee-yard of an Agricultural Research Station in NE Borneo.   The 
investigators tested 13 colonies in different locations and found 12  
infested at levels between 10% and 90%.  The investigators looked further  and 
found that Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis kosnevnokovi were all  infested.
 
The article suggests that if the parasite can infest 3 species of Apis this 
 may indicate a great danger to Apis mellifera.  As we all know, honeybees  
are transported around the world in great numbers.  It would be impossible  
to tell whether some of these bees might be, on their bodies, incubating  
the egg of this fly.  The fly deposits eggs on adult bees, probably  
foragers.  The adults flies feed on nectar from flowers so this is probably  where 
it happens.
 
Thinking about it, although so far found only in tropical countries, the  
fly with this sort of behavior could continue just as well in more temperate  
regions as there is usually nectar to be found through most of the year 
where  winters are not prolonged or harsh and their babies are kept warm and 
fed in the  bodies of the bees.
 
For more information, try the BfD website information portal topic Honey  
Bee Health and Welfare.  I shall ask their leaderine Nicola Bradbear all  
about it at Apimondia as I see (while googling for info about it) that she was  
moderating at a conference where this was discussed.
 
Chris


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