hi all. i check my bees today and noticed something odd about the brood, the brood looked like some pictures iv seen with foulbrood.the brood looked to be dead but not stringy like the books say, some were shreveled, chalk like,some were flat against the side of the cell, not in the bottom like normal,some looked like dried ckacked pollen, not sure if that was brood or just dried cracked pollen, but it wasent normal, by what ive seen in my hives brfore now , iv had bees 3 seasons now, first two seasons we were in a drought, this season weve had lots of rain, more rain than we normaly get. my question is if this is foulbrood or chalk brood what needs do be done, iv read that shaking the bees to a new box and burning all of the frames old box would save the bees, i would hate to kill the bees after all the work i went thourgh to get them , and keep them from leaving after i got them in the box.
Is the affected brood capped or not? If it is capped with perforated cappings, then it is more likely foulbrood, either American or European. There are tests you can buy or send in for in this case to double check.
If they aren't capped, and dried and chalky or like pollen and mostly white, like you describe, it sounds more like chalkbrood. You can also tell this if you have a screened bottom board and find small mummies, or perhaps on the landing board.
But if you send in a sample to the Beltsville laboratory they can tell you for sure. Or purchase a one-time test to check, or a milk test (search on that).
Rick
Edit: I notice that you mention a lot of rain...others might differ, but I seem to see more chalkbrood when it is wetter out or if they are confined. Funguses like moisture.
Sounds like chalkbrood. What does the frame smell like? I have heard that foulbrood puts off a smell that is unlike anything else you've ever smelled, and you'll never forget it.
If it's chalkbrood, there isn't much you can do, the hive will straighten out after a bit.
theres no oder,i didnt see any mummys, lots of rain,i thought it was water related, the boxes are dry and in full sun , when there is sun, i was looking over the internet,on diseases,and what iv seen in my boxes resemble efb, i wonder if shaking them to a new box would help
If you figure it out and if it is EFB if you will cage the queen up and not let her lay for about 10 days and let the workers have a chance to clean it up if they will. With the queen laying every day new larva's keep dieing and just keep adding to the problem.
EFB is more in the coiled larva's stage before it is capped
I've never experienced AFB myself, but everyone I've spoken with who has dealt with it says that the putrid stench of rotten meat is overwhelming, and it can sometimes be detected before you even open up the hive.
Before you burn any equipment you should send a sample off right away to the Beltsville LAB, and then you can rest easy knowing what is or isn't there.
Here's a link to instructions on how to properly mail them comb samples...
thanks to all for your help,so then theres no need to destory the frams, and old hive? i cage the queen for a week to break the cycle, and this should fix the problem? i hope
well, i took your advise and sent a sample in, i sent it on the 5th, i havent heard any thing yet, i called them to see if they have reseived the samples, all i get is, let me see and we'll call back, they still havent called back, how long does it take for them to test after they get the samples, does any one know, i would like to try to do somthing to save the bees, i hate to wait,so i looked for the queen, to cage her, normaly im prety good at finding the queen, but after two boxes i never did find her in either hive, i didnt want to stress the bees any more than they already are, after taking all the frames out and not seeing her i put every thing back and closed up ,i thank you all for your advise
I know it's difficult, but patience is what you need right now! You should have your results this week.
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