Chalk brood?

[The anonymous buzzing bee]

About three weeks ago, I bought a hive from a friend at the local association, who was trying to cut down to just a small operation. The hive was moved without too much trouble, and last week I inspected the brood, which was fine, and put on a super. This week, I went into the hive, and found some dead larvae on the ground. I went into th hive, and found the brood, which last week had been fine, to have a terrible brood pattern, and a lot of the larvaelooked as if they had gne mouldy. It sounds like chalk brood, but I have never heard of so much happening so quickly. I saw the queen (this year's), and she was fine. The hve next doorhad a small amount of similar brood, but not nearly as bad as this one.
Here are some photos: http://chriscurry.awardspace.com/beephotos.php

Any ideas?

Many thanks, ABB

[peggjam]

The pictures arn't quite clear enough to say for sure, but it does look like chalkbrood. The best treatment for this problem is to requeen the hive.

[George Fergusson]

It does look like chalkbrood. I've heard the best treatment for chalk is requeening, but I really don't understand why. I'd like for someone to explain it to me.

[Dave W]

If chalkbrood is caused by a fungus and an outbreak is caused by "stress", first thing I'd look for, this time of year, is possible "Varroa troubles".

In a disease/pest-free hive w/ a large bee population and lots of food available, calkbrood usually go away on its own. I guess thats why there is no registered treatment for chalkbrood.
(Dog-gone-it! Wish I could use a chemical smile.gif )

[peggjam]

"If chalkbrood is caused by a fungus and an outbreak is caused by "stress", first thing I'd look for, this time of year, is possible "Varroa troubles"."

I had a nuc that had severe chalkbrood problems, no mites, I requeened, and their're doing fine. Not everything is related to mites, sometimes it's just what it appears to be.

[merops_apiaster]

How old is that queen? How many bees has that hive? Large bee population is so important as a good young queen.

[George Fergusson]

> requeened, and their're doing fine.

I wonder if it was the break in the brood cycle?

Still trying to figure out why requeening is supposed to "treat" chalk.

[MichelleB]

My chalkbrood issues went away when I installed a screened bottom board (SBB) and the weather warmed up. Didn't requeen.

That hive was the only one out of 4 to produce a surplus this year (my first year).

[iddee]

I've seen chalkbrood numerous times after a move or split. I have never requeened for it. It doesn't last long. Maybe one brood cycle, then it's gone.

[The anonymous buzzing bee]

I am going away for 16 days on thursday, so I will probably leave it and see how they get on until then.

Many thanks,

ABB

[Dave W]

>I had a nuc that had severe chalkbrood problems, no mites, I requeened, and their're doing fine . . .

My guess, the STRESS on the nuc has moderated.


>Large bee population . . .

My guess, a large hive has little STRESS.


>My chalkbrood issues went away when I installed a screened bottom board (SBB) and the weather warmed up . . .

My guess is the STRESS of cold and damp went away too.


>I've seen chalkbrood numerous times after a move or split . . .

My guess is a move or a split is very STRESSful.


>I will probably leave it and see how they get on . . .

My guess is if the stress goes away, they'll do fine. If the stress is mite-related, the STRESS goes away when hive dies smile.gif

[iddee]

My guess is Dave W. believes chalkbrood is stress related... :D