Braula

Braula
Braula coeca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Braulidae
Genus: Braula
Nitzsch, 1818
Type species
Braula coeca[1]
Nitzsch, 1818
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Entomibia Costa, 1846[1]
  • Melittomyia Bigot, 1885

Braula is a genus of flies (Diptera) in the family Braulidae or bee lice. These are very unusual flies, wingless and flattened, and barely recognizable as Diptera. Braula coeca Nitzsch is a pest of honey bees. The larvae tunnel through the wax honeycomb and the adults are found on the bodies of honey bees. There is some debate as to whether the bee louse causes damage to the honey bee. These flies sometimes can be found at places where bees congregate such as flowers or salt licks, waiting to grab onto hosts from uninfested nests. Braula is cosmopolitan and about 1.6 mm in length.

Species

External links

References

  1. 1 2 Papp, L (1984). Soós, Árpád; Papp, Lazlo, eds. Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera (Print). 10. Amsterdam: Elsevier. pp. 178–180. ISBN 0-444-99601-X.
  2. Dobson, J.R. (1999). "Bee-louse Braula schmitzi Örösi-Pál (Diptera: Braulidae) new to the British Isles, and the status of Braula spp. in England and Wales". British Journal of Entomology and Natural History. British Entomological and Natural History Society. 11: 139–148.


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