Tag Archive for: Diseases

Honeybee Diseases: Threats to the Hive and How to Fight Back

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Honeybees, the tiny alchemists of the natural world, play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They pollinate crops, produce delicious honey, and contribute to biodiversity. However, these industrious insects are not immune to threats. Honeybee diseases can wreak havoc on hives, leading to colony collapse and impacting food security and the environment.

Common Honeybee Diseases:

  • American Foulbrood (AFB): This highly contagious bacterial disease affects brood (developing bees),causing larvae to die and turn into a sticky, foul-smelling mass.
  • European Foulbrood (EFB): Another bacterial disease, EFB primarily attacks young larvae, causing them to turn yellow and watery. While less contagious than AFB, it can still significantly weaken a colony.
  • Nosema: This fungal disease attacks the digestive system of adult bees, leading to dysentery and starvation. It can be spread through contaminated food or water.
  • Varroa Mites: These parasitic mites feed on the hemolymph (bee blood) of adult and developing bees, weakening them and transmitting viruses. They are considered one of the biggest threats to honeybee health globally.  Genetics, such as the VSH trait can help to keep these mites in check.
  • Sacbrood Virus:  This viral disease affects young larvae, causing them to turn into sacs of fluid. Infected larvae die and are removed by worker bees, leaving characteristic empty cells in the brood comb.

Treatment Options:

Fortunately, there are several methods to manage and treat honeybee diseases:

  • Antibiotics: Antibiotics, such as Tylosin, can be used to combat bacterial diseases like AFB and EFB. However, their use should be carefully monitored as excessive antibiotic use can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
  • Fungal Treatments: Fungicides, such as Fumagillin, can be used to treat Nosema, but their effectiveness can vary.
  • Mite Control: Integrated pest management (IPM) is crucial for Varroa mite control. This includes using chemical and non-chemical methods like miticides, sugar dusting, and drone brood removal, and more importantly, genetic factors, such as introducing the VSH trait into honeybee stock.
  • Queen Replacement: In some cases, especially with severe AFB infections, replacing the queen bee can be necessary to control the disease and rebuild the colony.
  • Good Beekeeping Practices: Maintaining strong colonies, providing adequate food and water, and practicing good hygiene are essential for preventing diseases and promoting overall bee health.

Early Detection is Key:

The key to successful disease management is early detection. Beekeepers should regularly inspect their hives for signs of disease, such as abnormal brood patterns, dead bees, or dysentery. Early intervention can significantly improve the chances of saving a colony.

Working Together:

Honeybee diseases are a complex issue requiring collaboration between beekeepers, researchers, and regulatory agencies. By sharing knowledge, developing new treatment methods, and implementing effective disease control measures, we can protect these vital pollinators and ensure the future of honeybees for generations to come.

Additional Tips:

  • Consult your local beekeeping association or extension service for guidance and support.
  • Consider joining a beekeeping club or online forum to connect with other beekeepers and learn from their experiences.
  • Stay informed about the latest research and developments in honeybee disease management.

Chalkbrood

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Of all the diseases and pathogens that can affect a honeybee colony – and there are many – chalkbrood is one of the less lethal.  Nevertheless, chalkbrood is still considered a common and somewhat detrimental disease of honeybee colonies.

Chalkbrood is a fungal infection that affects bee larvae, most commonly worker bee larva.  The infected larvae turn a chalky white color (hence the name) and become hard.  Sometimes, in the advanced stages, infected brood will turn a dark color, almost black.  One of the sure ways to tell if a colony is suffering from chalkbrood is to find the chalky dead larvae laying outside the entrance of a colony.  Worker bees, especially in colonies that have hygienic behavioral traits, do not tolerate dead larva well, and remove them as soon as they are able.  If a beekeeper finds a pile of chalky mummified larvae in the front of a colony, then it is almost a sure sign that chalkbrood is present.

Chalkbrood is one of those infections that can often be seen as a symptom, rather than a cause, of overall colony weakness.  In other words, weak and stressed out colonies are more susceptible to contract chalkbrood than healthy colonies, much in the same way that weakened and stressed people are more susceptible to catching colds.  Also, some strains of bees are simply more genetically susceptible to chalkbrood than others.

If chalkbrood is found in the early spring, it can be considered somewhat normal, a sign that the colony is struggling with handling a normal rapid ramp up of brood production at the same time that temperatures are still cold, and the colony hive population levels are low.  If this is the case, the chalkbrood typically clears itself up once the hive populations grow and there are more young bees available to tend to the brood and keep it warm.

If, on the other hand, chalkbrood is present during the summer or during a time when a colony should otherwise be healthy, a conscientious beekeeper should consider that there might possibly be something wrong with the colony and that it needs intervention.

Often the best cure for chalkbrood is giving the colony some attention and TLC.  This means thoroughly inspecting a colony to try and figure out what is causing it to be unhealthy.  Sometimes the solution involves providing the colony better nutrition, inspecting and treating for varroa mites and other pathogens, and perhaps replacing heavily infected frames with clean ones.  A conscientious beekeeper can also assist a colony by cleaning up any chalkbrood mummies that are clogging the entrance way or are laying on the bottom board of a bee colony.

Sometimes, simply requeening a colony solves the problem.  Fortunately, here at Wildflower Meadows, although our bees are not specifically selected for chalkbrood resistance, our overall grading process and selection for survivor stock tends to promote colonies that do not often succumb to chalkbrood.  Often, the gift of a young, healthy and vigorous queen with a good pedigree is all that a colony needs to get itself back on track.