Persistent EFB problems

[Tim B]

I am having continuing problems with EFB. Three years ago it showed up in a couple of hives. In the summer of 2007 I bought 20 queens and made splits. 2/3 of those splits showed up with EFB the next spring. This past spring EFB showed up in as high a frequency as 4 out of six hives in one apiary, 5 out of 10 in another. I started about 25 nucs through the spring out of hives with good non affected queens and now 25% of those are showing up with it. I even had two swarms that showed up in bait hives come down with it. I am treating with grease/terramiacyn patties. Many hives that had it last year didn’t get it this year. Solutions I have seen floating around range between let the weak die to requeen with more hygienic stock. The breeder I bought the queens from two years ago thinks his are hygienic. Interestingly, some hives cured with extender patties last season went through this season with the same queen and no treatment and no problems. Is anyone else having this problem? I’m looking for any advise other than “let weak die.”

[odfrank]

I have just found it in several hives, and bait swarms, first time I've seen it in 40 years. Confirmed by Beltsville. If it's not one thing, its another. I will start Terramycin treatments.

[Tom G. Laury]

Hey this is interesting, I have seen several cases this summer usually don't see any at all. Kind of a pain because I keep looking to see if it's American but can't get it to rope. Also the smell is different and not as strong. Requeening seems to help, the broodless period gives them a chance to clean up.

Tylan is inneffective, right?

[suttonbeeman]

Only had it one time. Five years ago when I hauled a load of really good bees from northern Va to ky. Got cold rain and stayed kinda like this year for a couple of weeks....cool and wet. I think it is caused by lack of good nutrition and stress. A number of hives died in spite of terra. The ones who survived cleared up during a good honey flow and I've havent seen it again.

[Beeslave]

Very interesting! Seeing it here too. It was really hard on a yard of nucs I started this spring/late for cells. Gave them fresh nurse bees, brood and another cell. Not a single one that had it took the cell. I also have 30 full size colonies in that same yard for drones and not a single one has EFB that I have seen.