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.