Diseases, Predators & Protection

Varroa in Nigeria (BfD Journal #86)
"I was sweeping the floor around the hive, when I noticed that the bees were dying in great numbers – this was most unusual".

Bee virus investigator wins Vita Research Award
 

Bee death in the USA: is the honey bee in danger? (BfD Journal #84)
Many people are concerned about the future of the honey bee because of the great number of bee colony losses, particularly in the USA, as recently highlighted throughout the media. To address the problem correctly, all the facts are needed.

More Silent Spring (letters in response to 'Silent Spring in Northern Europe'?) BfD Journal 72
We received considerable correspondence from readers following Borje Svensson's Silent Spring in Northern Europe published in BfD Journal 71

Silent spring in Northern Europe? (BfD Journal 71)
Colonies of bees have survived my mismanagement, infestation with wax moth, queenlessness, wet insulation, or even being tipped over during a cold winter storm. Some of my colonies always survived and managed to multiply when the spring sun shone and brought flowers and nutritious food back into the life cycle again. Winter losses never ever exceeded 15% - until last year.

Small hive beetle false alarm
 

Nosema ceranae - a new threat to Apis mellifera honey bees
Nosema is considered one of the most prevalent and economically damaging of honey bee diseases

Why the bees are dying
 

Caribbean Update (BfD Journal 80)
The 'Vampire' mite reaches Antigua

Diseases and pests information from USDA
 

Varroa destroys Apis mellifera
Beekeeping in Kashmir Valley
Korean haplotype of Varroa

Chalk brood in Ethiopia
Chalk brood is a disease of honeybee larvae caused by the fungus Ascosphaera apis, which causes the death and mummification of sealed honeybee brood, and with the consequent weakness of the colony. It is widespread amongst honeybees in Europe and North America. In Africa the only report of chalk brood has been from Tunisia.

The spread and control of American foulbrood (BfD Journal 76)
American foulbrood is a serious disease of honey bee brood. The disease is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae larvae. The spores can survive for and they are resistant to heat and chemicals. Normally, colonies with clinical symptoms of AFB in capped brood cells will die if treatment is not carried out.

A Varroa treatment without chemicals