Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
tissue turns hard and is chalky white. This is called a mummy . If conditions are favor-
able the fungus matures and reproduces, casting off black spores; the dead larva now
becomes white with black splotches on it. When nurse bees go to remove the chalky
dead larvae, now hard and rattling around in the cell, they get some of these spores on
their bodies and then share them with young larvae, completing the circle. It is a serious
problem when a high percent of the larvae in a colony die because of it.
Avoiding Chalkbrood
• Strong colonies in the spring maintain even internal broodnest temperatures
and can collect adequate food.
• Replace brood combs every three years or so to keep the number of spores to
the very minimum.
• Remove and destroy entire brood combs that have lots of infected larva.
• Maintain bees that have hygienic behavior.
• As a matter of course, keep stress to a minimum with lots of available food, a
healthy population, and a new queen every year.
You'll first see chalkbrood mummies on the bottom board, having been removed by house
bees.
You'll also see chalkbrood mummies in cells in the broodnest. They will be white, chalky,
and hard. They may rattle when you move the frame. Some may have black spots on
them, meaning the disease has matured to the point of producing spores, providing ad-
ditional means of infestation.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search