What are we seeing here?

[BeeKeyPlayer]

A friend, who sent me the pictures below, describes what she saw thus:
'No discoloured or distorted larvae but I’m not happy with this. I thought it was sacbrood but now I’m not sure. It’s a strong hive with a good laying rate and no varroa on the board.'
Any comments?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'd call the SBI tomorrow

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes
The forum isn’t the place for a proper diagnosis.
See what the bee inspector says but do share with us.

 

[Wilco]

Don't like the look of those dark mummified-looking cells seen in the second picture. (edit, it could be dark bee bread).

Not convinced about varroa either, possibly some uncapping going on too but don't think it's just that.

As per JBM.

 

[Ian123]

I’d hope it’s bald brood but as Jenks said if in doubt call your bee inspector, am sure you could mail him the photos. The bottom pic looks an iffy pattern as well.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It may just be the picture quality but some of the larvae look as if the body sections are losing definition.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

My friend has already sent a message to the SBI. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your replies.

 

[user 819]

From the pics looks like Bald brood though there could be a couple of issues occrring as well, the SBI will give you a defacto answer.

 

[Nannysbees]

New one on me, bald brood due to the wax moth?

 

[Erichalfbee]

From the pics looks like Bald brood though there could be a couple of issues occrring as well, the SBI will give you a defacto answer.

Isn't it pupae that are uncapped with bald brood? Rather than larvae?

 

[Erichalfbee]

New one on me, bald brood due to the wax moth?

Wax moth, yes if in lines. Widespread bald brood is a queen issue

 

[ericbeaumont]

no varroa on the board

Not a reliable indicator.

Looks like systemic bald brood plus sacbrood but photos don't tell the whole story, so do let us know the outcome.

One year I saw eight solid frames of sac brood in a colony and the sac was far worse than your photos: a cell of sealed alternating with a cell of sac. I concluded it was genetic so killed the queen, burned all the brood frames on the spot, cleaned the kit and it never recurred.

 

[Nannysbees]

Wax moth, yes if in lines. Widespread bald brood is a queen issue

Thank you, hadn't heard of it, I'll do some research

 

[user 819]

Isn't it pupae that are uncapped with bald brood? Rather than larvae?

Larvae can also be seen as bald brood, a queen issue and needs re -Queening. The larvae can develope as normal if the bees don't remove them.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Wax moth, yes if in lines. Widespread bald brood is a queen issue

Also a sign of a high varroa load

 

[Erichalfbee]

My friend has already sent a message to the SBI. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your replies.

Any update?

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

Yes, Dani. Sorry, it has been on my list for a few days. The SBI and RBI both thought sacbrood and bald brood from the pictures but the SBI visited because there is EFB in places in Kent and my friend wants to sell bees. The visit confirmed no EFB.

I've found the experience a little challenging. I share queen rearing activities with this friend. I want to maintain a realistic attitude to risk. I clean my suits after each apiary visit (I have more than one suit!) and clean my gloves and tool between each hive. But part of the reason for having more than one apiary is being able to move bees between each. The result of that is that I have found CBPV at both sites.

If you get too scared of disease, it can have a crippling effect on your beekeeping. Our association apiary is small and dwindling because of the reluctance to take in any bees including swarms. There's a balance to be struck between being careful and carrying on with life and doing things.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The visit confirmed no EFB.

Phew!
Thanks for letting us know and

There's a balance to be struck between being careful and carrying on with life and doing things.

Is spot on!

 

[Sutty]

There's a balance to be struck between being careful and carrying on with life and doing things.

That's a lesson for the whole of life!

 

[Michael Palmer]

A friend, who sent me the pictures below, describes what she saw thus:
'No discoloured or distorted larvae but I’m not happy with this. I thought it was sacbrood but now I’m not sure. It’s a strong hive with a good laying rate and no varroa on the board.'
Any comments?

Is there any worker brood?