Have taken a photo of a bee with what looks like two minature bees on its thorax. Any ideas?

Question

This might just be a fluke picture but it looks as though the bee i photgraphed has two small bee like insects attached to its abdomen and I wondered what the are. I can email the picture if you are interested in seeing it.

Answer 1

they are mites,the bee will die

Answer 2

what the first guy said.  there is a big problem with that in hawaii, and they gov't is concidering killing all the bees on one of the islands to stop the spred of this mite.

Answer 3

These are probably varroa mites

The varroa mite is a bloodsucking parasite that attacks young and adult honeybees. Attacked bees often have deformed wings and abdomens and a shortened life span. The varroa mite is effective at transmitting disease, particularly viruses.  Left untreated, a varroa mite infestation can wipe out a bee colony within a few months. Both the varroa and tracheal mites lead to the death of the bees by puncturing holes in their bodies that serve as pathways for viruses. The viruses are what technically kill most of the bees.