Passengers

We noticed this buff-tailed bumble bee on one of the flower bed borders, taking a rest. And not surprising, because when you look it has a dozen or so passengers hitching a ride. At first I was afraid (I was petrified... no, not the song) that they were harmful parasites, and indeed on some wildlife forums they talk of removing them with tweezers! Checking on the Bumblebee Conservation Trust web site though it turns out they're simply mites in search of a good time. Just as well; I'm not sure it'd find my tweezering skills particularly advanced!