Tracey and others Are you familiar with Crithidia mellificae.
I have seen many of these things in dead bees in Alberta when we did surveys in 2008- 2012. You may check this article for more info.
Comprehensive bee pathogen screening in Belgium reveals Crithidia mellificae as a new contributory factor to winter mortality
PLoS One 8 (8), e72443, 2013Pictures are in this article
Characterization of Two Species of Trypanosomatidae from the Honey Bee Apis mellifera: Crithidia mellificae Langridge and McGhee, 1967 and Lotmaria passim n. gen., n. sp
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27o_Characterization_of_Two_Species_of_Trypanosomatidae_from_the_Honey_Bee_Apis_mellifera_Crithidia_mellificae_Langridge_and_McGhee_1967_and_Lotmaria_passim_n_gen_n_sp
The top article has images of what you see under the microscope. They look like sperm with the flagellate keep wiggling.
I hope this helps in identifying more or pathogenic microbes in bees guts.
Medhat Nasr
Edmonton Alberta Canada
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