Lesson 8: More Common Diseases & Pests
In current times, honey bees require our diligent care & attention.
Long gone are the days you could set up a colony and walk away.
Diseases, Today, there are many stressors on honey bee colonies - lack of good
parasites, year round foraging, bad location for apiary, bad beekeeping, etc.
and other Disease & pests are just one small part of the problem - The #1
pests stressor - Varroa Destructor (parasite) will be covered under our next
lesson, but right now I'm speaking on different diseases and pests
you could find in your hives, and what you can do to help your bees.
Always best for beginning beekeepers to start with new equipment,
Buying used but if buying used equipment you can cut out a sample of the brood
equipment comb and send to a bee disease lab to be tested. Cut out 4" square
unwise unless from center of the brood area, wrap in newspaper then plastic bag,
it has been Pack in cardboard box & mail to: Beneficial Insect Lab, Bldg. 476
properly Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Bee research Entomologist
examined for Room 211 10300 Baltimore Ave. BLDG 476 BARC-EAST
diseases. Beltsville, MD 20705 put your return address inside and outside of
pkg.
Healthy looking broodcomb:
Observations:
Use your
senses - eyes,
ears & nose...
Bacterial Diseases
This is a condition of hives caused by a spore forming bacteria called
(Paenibacillus larvae). Bee larvae consume the spores which then
germinate in the gut and multiply in the tissues. Infected larvae
American usually die once the cell is sealed. It can be spread by robbing bees,
Foulbrood using infected equipment and hives, and from even catching infected
(ropey dead swarms. Prevention? Keep large healthy colonies, destroy
larvae, black contaminated equipment/hives. Medication? Terramycin? Terra-Pro?
scales, dark Tylosin? Tylan? Spores last for 50 years and indestructable.
sunken
cappings,
distinct foul
offensive odor)
To avoid AFB some beekeepers will routinely treat with antibiotics
like Terramycin and Tylosin. However, we must all keep in mind
that routine treatments with antibiotics will eventually result in
antibiotic resistant bacteria and unnatural often toxic residues in
honey combs. The best ways to naturally prevent AFB is to never
buy used equipment and keep a hygienic hive.
European Foulbrood is similar to American Foulbrood as it is a
bacteria (Melissococcus pluton) that attacks brood cells. However,
EFB is not nearly as detrimental. The remedy for EFB is not as
Viral Diseases
Sacbrood -
SBV
(blotted larvae Sacbrood is caused by a virus (Morator Aetatulas), less destructive
turn gray then and less contagious then foulbrood. Can be a problem if colony short
black, jagged on nurse bees. It seldom becomes serious. Requeen if it persists.
capping
opening, can
be removed
whole by
toothpick)
Environmental Causes
Brood dies from neglect, not enough nurse bees to feed & cover
(keep warm). Keep brood combs together, inspect on warm days &
return brood combs quickly during inspection. I remove brood
frames from hive for inpection only if temp. 60 degrees or higher.
Chilled Brood
Fungi Parasites
Nosema Apis & Nosema Ceranae... Nosema C (fungi) seems to be
the prevelant strain and most destructive at this time. Attacks the
inner lining of the bee's mid-gut. Treatment is an antibiotic -
Nosema A, Fumigilin-B (Fumidil-B no longer available). Feeding of the anti-
Nosema C biotic in sugar syrup may not be as effective against Nosema C.
(fecal spotting) but Fumigilin-B added to a sugar syrup drench over 4 week period to
encourage flushing of bee stomach/intestines is said to be more
effective against Nosema C. (Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian, a
small, spore forming unicellular parasite. They were once thought to
be protists but are now known to be fungi. )
Good accurate information from Eric Mussen U.C. Davis:
http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/files/147621.pdf
Paralysis is a virus disease that has not caused much loss in the
Paralysis
Northern States. It affects adult bees, appear to be partially
paralyzed, tremble, look old, shiny, greasy... disease seems to be
Virus
present in only onbred or non-resistant strains of bees, re-queen the
colony. (Acute, Chronic, Israeli, Kashmir - all Paralysis Virus')
Black Queen Cell Virus, Cloudy Wing Virus, Deformed Wing Virus,
Other Virus' Kakugo Virus, Tobacco Ringspot Virus
(opportunistic - most are related Varroa Destructor infestations)
Dysentery is a condition not a disease. Caused by poor quality
Dysentery winter stores or prolonged confinement during winter months. Also
caused by Nosema A or Nosema C.
Lots of dead bees on the door-step or in front of the hive? an
organophosphate smell? Prevention: move your bees before spraying
Poisoning
takes place. Report the incident to:
Washington State Department of Agriculture
Pesticide Management Division
877-301-4555 (toll free)
compliance@agr.wa.gov
Good resource online for prevention info: http://www.step-
project.net/NPDOCS/PNW%20591.pdf
Pests of Honey Bees
Wax moths are a prominent enemy of bees, but they render a service
when they destroy neglected combs on which bees have dies of
American Foulbrood. Two types - Greater & lesser moth. Moths do
not kill bees but destroy combs not properly protected. The best way
Wax Moths
to protect combs is to give them back to the care of the bees by
placing them over strong colonies.
To protect supers or any comb not placed on the hives, stack in
airtight pile, fumigate with PDB (Paradichlorobenzene, follow label
instructions. NEVER treat with moth balls (naptha based products).
Adult beetles usually gather at the rear of the hive where they gather
on the bottom board.
Small Hive
Beetle
Strong colonies usually repel such insect invaders. Entrances can be
reduced to assist the bees in defending the colony against aggressive
yellow jackets in August & September. Still the best defense is a
Yellow strong healthy colony.
Jackets, Ants,
and Earwigs
Mice can be very destructive to hives in winter and should be
excluded from the hive. Keep mice out of the honey supers stored
also.
Mice
Evidence of packed dirt at the entrance and muddy bottom board or
feces with bee bodies in it?
Skunks/Racoo
ns/etc.
Total destruction! electric fence? move apiary? shoot the bears?
Bears?
Could be problem for queen rearing apiaries? Otherwise, small
amount of foragers lost
Birds
Questions?
