Chalk brood or something fouler 🫤

[Swarm]

 

[warsaw_hive]

It was chalk brood - thanks for the help and opinions.

Well done Swarm and Antipodes! What assets to this forum you both are.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It was chalk brood - thanks for the help and opinions.

Good news.
How did you get on with your SBI? They are usually extremely helpful with all sorts when they visit. Good to make contact with them.

 

[BugsInABox]

Good news.
How did you get on with your SBI? They are usually extremely helpful with all sorts when they visit. Good to make contact with them.

He was pretty quick - in and out. There were a couple of cells he looked at closely and did a lateral flow test on. But nice guy.

 

[robmort]

I have a similar question: This problem has recently appeared in one of my hives. Not much brood at present but what there is has this. Is it also Chalkbrood?

 

[E&MBees]

I have a similar question: This problem has recently appeared in one of my hives. Not much brood at present but what there is has this. Is it also Chalkbrood?

View attachment 41307View attachment 41308

Might be worth asking your local SBI to have a look just to be on the safe side.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

when did you last treat for varroa, and how?

 

[mbc]

when did you last treat for varroa, and how?

Yup, lots of dwv and dead brood under cappings, colony may be too far gone to pull around with treatment.

 

[ericbeaumont]

it also Chalkbrood?

No. As mbc said, the colony has a very high varroa load and is unlikely to survive. The strange open brood are those chewed by bees attempting to remove compromised larvae.

 

[robmort]

The hive was first vaped 6 days ago and again yesterday. There are lots of healthy bees in the hive; this frame has been partly cleared for the photo and probably shows a much higher proportion of bees with DWV than elsewhere. Thanks for the comments. I'll keep on vaping and see how it goes, maybe unite if necessary.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The hive was first vaped 6 days ago

What was the 24 hour drop?

 

[mbc]

The hive was first vaped 6 days ago and again yesterday. There are lots of healthy bees in the hive; this frame has been partly cleared for the photo and probably shows a much higher proportion of bees with DWV than elsewhere. Thanks for the comments. I'll keep on vaping and see how it goes, maybe unite if necessary.

If the hive had lots of healthy bees then surely they'd have done a better job of clearing up all that mess visible in the photos, all the same, well done for getting on with vaping and good luck with saving them.
If they continue to go down hill I'd take the hit and not pass on their problems to another lot by uniting.

 

[robmort]

What was the 24 hour drop?

Can't be sure after the first vape as this is my out apiary and I had brought the wrong OMF tray that time so could only put it on the ground underneath, but didn't seem too excessive. Will see better this time.

 

[Chris Hancock]

The picture does look rather suspicious, and the larvae are discoloured and mis-shapen, sunken cappings. I do advise an inspector's check, very soon. (Sorry, but better safe than sorry, and if it is bad, better to sort it out.)

 

[ericbeaumont]

an inspector's check, very soon

If Rob would like a disease check he'd better contact South East RBI Tom Bickerdike, because the Seasonals have finished for the year.
https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/contact-us

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I have a similar question: This problem has recently appeared in one of my hives. Not much brood at present but what there is has this. Is it also Chalkbrood?

View attachment 41307View attachment 41308

Varroa overload

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If Rob would like a disease check he'd better contact South East RBI Tom Bickerdike, because the Seasonals have finished for the year.
https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/contact-us

they're not really seasonal nowadays, ours were still working last week as the lads were with me doing my DASH audit.
Of course there is always the possibility of them all rushing down South after AH at this time of the year (which is why their 'season' was extended into October a few years ago.