bee louse

Any of a number of species of wingless flies parasitic on bees. They look more like lice than flies. Most have claws at the ends of their legs.

Classification Bee lice are in the family Braulidae, order Diptera (suborder Cyclorrhapha), class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda.

Bee lice lay their eggs on the walls or under the cappings of honey cells. The larvae work their way from one cell to the next, feeding on the honey. In small numbers the bee louse is insignificant; if many are present however, they can be serious pests to bees and beekeepers.

Braula caeca is rust-brown and about 1.5 mm/0.06 in long. It is a parasite of honeybees.