is this chalkbrood?

[Cuckmere couple]

in a 1 month old swarm colony and if so it may have spread to neighbouring swarm colony caught at same time which has developed 5 times faster (both had laying queens)

what to do? this colony is small and has some brood and stores on half drawn frames....tempted to combine by shaking bees away and letting return to stronger colony which is only a foot or two to one side

 

[Swarm]

No, it's pollen.

 

[thibault]

Looks like pollen to me, nothing to worry about, but more experienced beekeepers will confirm.

Sent from my SM-J710F using Tapatalk

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks all...just looks like a lot of chalky grey and is in between brood etc

 

[Roola]

Chalkbrood is very recognisable as the grub/bee dries into a sort of grey pellet which can then turn more black in time. They can even rattle around in the cells a bit until removed by bees. From the pictures youve put up recently your colony looks very healthy with nice raised biscuit coloured cappings.

Use beebase for images if you are ever concerned.
http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/gallery/index.cfm?galleryid=0

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Chalkbrood is very recognisable as the grub/bee dries into a sort of grey pellet which can then turn more black in time. They can even rattle around in the cells a bit until removed by bees. From the pictures youve put up recently your colony looks very healthy with nice raised biscuit coloured cappings.

Use beebase for images if you are ever concerned.
http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/gallery/index.cfm?galleryid=0

thanks for this....nice reply

 

[Beecat]

Looking at the above photos I notice some of the cappings are paler than others and maybe a bit sunken. What am I seeing there?

 

[Eyeman]

The first picture makes me concerned about EFB or possible neglected brood. Larvae just above the capped brood look 'bloated' and not taking on the normal C-shape. Some perforated cappings. I would take a real close look at the open brood and if any deviated from the normal C-shaped, bright white and segmented then get help.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Really?

That’s concerning

Will have a closer look later and try to get more photos

We have had EFB nearby and this was a swarm with a laying queen

Been away for two weeks too and no sign of the marked queen or eggs...and supersedure cells emerging

 

[Madge]

Really?



That’s concerning



Will have a closer look later and try to get more photos ...

No, I don’t think you need to be worried at all. But if you are, contact your local bee inspector.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

ok, thanks

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Bee inspector currently inspecting

 

[Bakerbee]

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

spoke to bee inspector yesterday

she said it could be neglected brood but is sending me a kit to test for EFB...suggested i squash a larvae and see if its yellow or white where pollen sac should be...dont quite understand that

but

its odd that we went away for 2 weeks and on return....no queen (which we had clearly marked and it was only a swarm colony of 3 frames)

would she have died etc?

anyway...to complicate further...before i saw feedback about brood being a potential problem, i had mertged it with the colony from a swarm a foot away by scattering the bees and putting a single national where the two polys had been....they all seem fine, but, if theres a problem, now none of them will be

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Bee inspector coming tomorrow so will let you all know

 

[Cuckmere couple]

if anyone interested still....

bee inspector came worried about EFB in the photos above

no problem!!

it was neglected brood as the queen was being superseded (though id merged them with a stronger colony)

so all good

 

[Eyeman]

Glad it all turned out OK.
Photos clearly showed abnormal larvae- EFB or neglected brood. Not sure why some tried to reassure you all was well.
You did the right thing in getting it tested.

 

[Madge]

Glad it all turned out OK.

Photos clearly showed abnormal larvae- EFB or neglected brood. Not sure why some tried to reassure you all was well.

You did the right thing in getting it tested.

As I said, nothing to worry about. But I also advised to call the inspector if he is worried.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

excellent, thanks all