Tags
disease management, diseases of honey bees, honey bee pests, management, management of honey bee disaeses and pests, pests
“It is the goal of every beekeeper to maintain healthy, productive colonies. This can only be accomplished by reducing the frequency and prevalence of disease within beehives. The following is an outline of recommendations for detecting and treating colonies for economically important parasites and pathogens of honey bees so that beekeepers may achieve this goal, and do so in a sustainable way for the long-term health of their colonies.”
| Disease/Pest | Causative Agent | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Parasites | ||
| Varroa mites | The parasitic mite Varroa destructor | Presence of adult mites, deformed wings |
| Tracheal mites | The parasitic mite Acarapis woodi | K-wings, morbidity |
| Nosema | The protozoan Nosema apis | Diarrhea, distended abdomens |
| Brood Pathogens | ||
| American foulbrood (AFB) | The bacterium Paenibacillus larvae | Discolored larvae, foul smelling brood, ropy remains, scale |
| European foulbrood (EFB) | The bacterium Melissococcus pluton and associated flora | Discolored larvae, foul smelling brood, non-ropy remains, no scale |
| Chalkbrood | The fungus Ascophaera apis | White or black mummies in cells or on bottom board |
| Sacbrood | A viral infection | Brown larvae in the curled “canoe” shape |
| Hive Pests | ||
| Wax moths | Larvae of Galaria mellonella | Silk cocoons and/or tunnels |
| Small hive beetle (SHB) | Larvae of Aethinda tumida | Wet combs, maggot-like larvae |
Read the full Extension Guide titled “Disease Management and Guidelines for the Honey Bee by NC State Extension here: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/disease-management-and-guidelines-for-the-honey-bee
