wintered colonies, confined bees • Stand the combs up so they infected with nosema may defe- are heated in their normal upcate on the combs, causing right position right position (not on their healthy bees to become infected sides). as they clean the combs in the • Check to see that boxes and spring. Food stores and soiled combs have space between them shipping cages can also be sources that allows for air circulation. of infection. • Never allow the temperature to exceed 120° F. or the wax will Control melt. Circulate the air in large You can arrest the infection rooms so no hot spots are created. by giving the bees a supply of Acetic acid fumigation can also sugar sirup containing the anti- be used to decontaminate bee biotic fumagillin. Because this equipment. When giving this drug has no effect on the spores treatment stack hive bodies conof the nosema parasite this treat- taining combs on a floorboard ment will not completely elimi outdoors or in an open shed. nate the disease from the colony. Place a pad of cotton or other The infection will continue when absorbent material material previously all the medicated sirup has been soaked in 14 pint of acetic acid consumed. (80 percent) on the top bars of the comb in each hive. Block the Fumagillin is the only drug ap entrance and cover the stack with proved by the Food and Drug Administration for the preven a wooden top. Seal any cracks in tion and control of nosema dig or between the hive bodies with ease. Fumagillin is available on masking tape. Leave the stack the market as Fumidil-B®. undisturbed for one week. After fumigation, air the combs for No medication should be fed about 48 hours before using them to the colonies when there is dan again. ger of contaminating the honey crop. The time of medication varies with location of the apiary. Paralysis Treatment.—To decontaminate Cause soiled bee equipment heat the Paralysis of adult honey bees equipment at 120° F. for 24 is a condition brought about by hours. This treatment will either filterable viruses and by poisondestroy the spores or make them ous plants. The "paralysis" disnonviable. cussed here refers to the disease Take the following precautions caused by the chronic, bee-paralywhen you give your equipment sis virus. a heat treatment: • Examine the combs before Effect hand and make sure they contain Colonies can be affected by little or no honey or pollen. paralysis during the entire bee PN-3128 Figure 7. Top: Digestive tract from a healthy bee. Note the individual circular constrictions on the ventriculus. Bottom: Digestive tract of a honey bee with Nosema disease. Note that the circular constrictions on the ventriculus are not clearly defined. season. However, paralysis is tion are often hairless and have more commonly found in warm no control of their wings and climates. The disease affects only legs. Abdomens of affected bees a small percentage of the bees. may be dark, shiny, or greasy. In severe cases, honey production of a colony can be seriously Spread reduced by this virus. It is rare How the virus is transmitted for colonies to be destroyed by from bee to bee is not known. paralysis disease. The paralysis virus is endemic in some colonies and the disease Symptoms recurs each year in a small perBees affected by the disease centage of the bee population. are usually found on the top bars of the combs. Individual bees Control tremble uncontrollably and are No chemical agent for the conunable to fly. (Sick bees are some- trol of paralysis is available. Intimes attacked by healthy bees. fected colonies seem able to cope When this condition is serious, with the disease without medicalarge numbers of bees can be tion. The offspring of some found crawling out of the colony queens appear to be more susentrance.) Bees with this condi- ceptible than others. Consequent believed to be transmitted Mention of a proprietary prod- through the feces. uct in this publication does not There is no known treatment constitute a guarantee or war- for amoeba disease. Colonies are ranty of the product by the U.S. seldom if ever destroyed by this Department of Agriculture and disease. does not imply its approval by the Department to the exclusion Bee-Louse of other products that may also be suitable. Braula coeca, commonly known as the "bee-louse," is not a louse, but a highly specialized parasitic ly, requeening of affected col- fly, belonging to the order Diponies is often effective in elimi tera. Braula coeca adults are nating paralysis. wingless and incapable of flight. The tunnels made by the bee louse's larvae in the honey combs Septicemia destroy the market value of the Septicemia is rarely considered comb. a serious disease. Little is known The bee-louse can usually be about the bacterium, Pseudo Pseudo- found singly or in great nummonas apiseptica, that infects the bers on the bee's thorax and bees. mouth. It literally takes food out Bees that die from septicemia of the mouth of the honey bee. often have a putrid odor. The The bee-louse is found in limmuscles of the thorax decay rap- ited geographical areas. It has idly and the body, legs, wings, been seen in Maryland and Virand antennae fall apart when ginia. No effective treatment is handled. available for infestation by the No control measure is known bee-louse. for this disease. The colony usually recovers spontaneously Acarine Disease from septicemia. Acarine disease is not present in the United States. This disease Amoeba Disease causes serious losses of adult Amoeba disease is rarely found bees in Europe, and to some dein honey bee colonies. Losses from gree in South America and Inthis disease are minor except minor except dia. For this reason, the imporwhen it is found in combination tation of live adult honey bees with other adult diseases. into the United States, except Diagnosis of this disease re- from Canada, is prohibited by quires examination with a micro- Federal law. No chemical agent scope. Only the cyst stage of the is approved by the Food and pathogen Malphighamoeba melli- Drug Administration for use ficae is known. The disease is against acarine disease. PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF BEE DISEASES Bee diseases are spread when If you obtain adult bees or bees rob a diseased colony. For brood or feed honey (whether this reason good management re- extracted or in combs) from unquires that you minimize the op- known sources, do not add them portunity to rob. Bee glue (pro- to healthy colonies. Be certain polis) and burr combs should be that your source of bees and placed in containers which pre- honey is from disease-free colvent the access of bees to the ma- onies. This is especially importerial. When a colony dies, close tant when capturing swarms of the hive to prevent the remain- unknown origin. When in doubt, ing stores from being robbed. isolate the colony until you are In most States, sale of equip- certain that it is disease free. ment from colonies infected by Inspect your bee colonies often. American foulbrood is prohibited Watch for signs of disease. If by law. Before you purchase any any colony shows symptoms that used equipment, be sure to con- are suspicious call your apiary sult your apiary inspector for inspector for his assistance, or information on the source of the send a test sample to a State or equipment. As an added precau- Federal laboratory. Instructions tion, disinfect used equipment be- for sending samples are given on fore use. page 2. PRECAUTIONS Pesticides used improperly can taminate water or leave illegal be injurious to man, animals, and residues. plants. Follow the directions and Avoid prolonged inhalation of heed all precautions on the labels. pesticide sprays or dusts; wear Store pesticides in original con protective clothing and equipment if specified on the container. tainers under lock and key-out of the reach of children and ani- NOTE: Some States have remals—and away from food and strictions on the use of certain feed. pesticides. Check your State and Apply pesticides so that they local regulations. Also, because do not endanger humans, live- registrations of pesticides are stock, crops, beneficial insects, under constant review by the fish, and wildlife. Do not apply U.S. Environmental Protection pesticides when there is danger Agency, consult your county agriof drift, when honey bees or other cultural agent or State Extension pollinating insects are visiting specialist to be sure the intended plants, or in ways that may con- use is still registered. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973 0–501-706 |
