Chalk brood. Should I worry?

[Webby]

I've noticed quite a bit of chalk brood being cleared out of my hive. Should I be concerned? It's my first year. I've read in a couple of books it's nothing to worry about usually.

 

[Roola]

I've noticed quite a bit of chalk brood being cleared out of my hive. Should I be concerned? It's my first year. I've read in a couple of books it's nothing to worry about usually.

well, nothing to worry about in that it won't wipe your colony out but if it is quite bad you are losing viable brood... Best option is to requeen, resiliance is genetic so should fix the problem. I had a colony with particularly bad chalkbrood last year, new queen and it disappeared.

 

[Cussword]

If it's a strong hive and they're clearing it out it should be OK.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

new buckie queen, changeable weather, my betting is that you have chilled brood rather than chalkbrood proper - she's laying like a train, not enough bees to cover brood in some instances so the brood on the edges are being left to chill and die, seen it with the odd young colony earlier this year but no evidence of chalkbrood now to be a worry.

 

[user 6228]

Poly or wooden hive?

 

[Webby]

well, nothing to worry about in that it won't wipe your colony out but if it is quite bad you are losing viable brood... Best option is to requeen, resiliance is genetic so should fix the problem. I had a colony with particularly bad chalkbrood last year, new queen and it disappeared.

It is a new buckfast queen. Only been in since 1st July so don't wanna do that again. Wooden langstroth hive. Chilled? It's been really warm down in the south east the last week or two?

 

[bpmurray]

new buckie queen, changeable weather, my betting is that you have chilled brood rather than chalkbrood proper - she's laying like a train, not enough bees to cover brood in some instances so the brood on the edges are being left to chill and die, seen it with the odd young colony earlier this year but no evidence of chalkbrood now to be a worry.

I had similar with too few bees to cover the brood and it's cleared up now.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Chilled? It's been really warm down in the south east the last week or two?

doesn't matter, if there isn't enough nurse bees to cover the brood at night they will abandon some and they will get chilled as brood temperatures are critical.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Also, I have found chalk brood much more common in beginners who have their frames exposed for long times when inspecting. Not their fault, I hasten to add...just adding another additional cause.

 

[maddydog]

Also, I have found chalk brood much more common in beginners who have their frames exposed for long times when inspecting. Not their fault, I hasten to add...just adding another additional cause.

Only time I ever see chalkbrood is in association colonies, I can only assume it is due to excessive wafting of frames!

 

[user 6228]

for chalkbrood you will find its lowered temperature that can really make it happen

see :
Flores, J. M., Gutierrez, I., & Puerta, F. (2004). A comparison of methods to experimentally induce chalk brood disease in honey bees. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2(1), 79–83. Retrieved from http://www.uco.es/organiza/departamentos/bio-animal/Apicultura/trabajos_libros/A comparison of methods.pdf

Flores, J. M., Ruiz, J. a, Ruz, J. M., Puerta, F., Bustos, M., Padilla, F., & Campano, F. (1996). Effect of temperature and humidity of sealed brood on chalkbrood development under controlled conditions. Apidologie, 27, 185–192. http://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19960401

 

[beeno]

Just a thought. If I had bought in a queen I would not be very pleased if she had an inherited predisposition to chalkbrood. How large is the colony?
From my earlier thread on this subject I ended up shook swarming onto new foundation as they were not hygienic bees and is presently requeening from different strain. This colony was a good honey producer last season, but came out of winter very small which I think caused the chalkbrood. First time I have had chalkbrood in my apiary. Thanks to the beeks that gave me re-queening advice.

 

[Webby]

for chalkbrood you will find its lowered temperature that can really make it happen

see :
Flores, J. M., Gutierrez, I., & Puerta, F. (2004). A comparison of methods to experimentally induce chalk brood disease in honey bees. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2(1), 79–83. Retrieved from http://www.uco.es/organiza/departamentos/bio-animal/Apicultura/trabajos_libros/A comparison of methods.pdf

Flores, J. M., Ruiz, J. a, Ruz, J. M., Puerta, F., Bustos, M., Padilla, F., & Campano, F. (1996). Effect of temperature and humidity of sealed brood on chalkbrood development under controlled conditions. Apidologie, 27, 185–192. http://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19960401

Thank you. I'll have a look. Feeling better now about it. I'm not looking at them more than once a week and I'll try to be quicker when I do look. Thanks everyone.

 

[Eyeman]

Also, I have found chalk brood much more common in beginners who have their frames exposed for long times when inspecting. Not their fault, I hasten to add...just adding another additional cause.

Gosh.
Last year had a few colonies with chalk brood this year none (SO FAR).
Does that mean I'm getting better and my inspections are getting quicker?

 

[BeeJayBee]

This colony was a good honey producer last season, but came out of winter very small which I think caused the chalkbrood. First time I have had chalkbrood in my apiary. Thanks to the beeks that gave me re-queening advice.

Chalkbrood isn't caused by small colonies, it's a fungal infection exacerbated by cold and damp.

Some colonies are more susceptible to it than others and it can often be resolved by requeening.

 

[beeno]

A small colony is not able to keep the proper brood nest temperature and allows the chalkbrood spores to germinate.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Chalkbrood can, and will, develop in large colonies in a damp location.

Small colonies will not always show signs of chalkbrood.

 

[BernardBlack]

Chalkbrood can, and will, develop in large colonies in a damp location.

Small colonies will not always show signs of chalkbrood.

Not being smart here, but can you define a damp location? Are you talking about wet weather or is there more to it?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Not being smart here, but can you define a damp location?

Ireland?

 

[masterBK]

Chalk brood spores are activated by carbon dioxide. Since I switched from solid to OMFs I get very lttile chalk brood these days presumably the extra ventilation reduces humidity and carbon dioxide concentrations within the hive.