ZomBees - The parasitization of honey bees by phorid flies.

Phorid Flies Parasitizing Honey Bees in the Bay Area and Beyond. The parasitization of honey bees by phorid flies causes them to leave the hive at night, and fly toward light sources, where they eventually fall to the ground and die. Emerging larva then pupate in the ground, where they mature into the next generation of flies. In the bay-area, peak season for Phorid flies is the winter months. Dr. Hafernik discusses research findings from a consortium of scientists and students working on phorid fly parasitization of honeybees, assisted by citizen scientists. Dr. John Hafernik- Professor Emeritus of Biology Ph.D., Entomology, University of California, Berkeley His research focuses on evolutionary and ecological processes at the population or species level and conservation biology of insects. He is especially interested in the evolution of mating systems, isolating mechanisms, and interactions between insects and their animal plant hosts. Dr. Hafernik was formerly the president of the board of trustees of the California Academy of Sciences. Thumbnail image: Core A, Runckel C, Ivers J, Quock C, Siapno T, et al. (2012). "A new threat to honey bees, the parasitic phorid fly Apocephalus borealis". PLoS ONE 7 (1). DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0029639. Retrieved on 04 January 2012., CC BY 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5, via Wikimedia Commons 20211214