[Litsinger]

Happy Easter to one and all.

While walking by one of my colonies this afternoon I observed what I initially thought might be pesticide exposure, with maybe three dozen bees doubled-over and crawling in the grass.

Upon further evaluation however, I noted that approximately half of the flightless bees could be characterized as having what I can only describe as 'shrunken heads', with most of this number having an obvious deformity where their compound eyes should be (see attached photos).

My first thought was DWV, but none of the number on the ground showed the characteristic shriveled and/or missing wings I have observed in the past.

Looking online, the only bee disease I see characterized by a shrunken head is Sacbrood, but as I understand it larvae infected with it never would pupate nor emerge?

Has anyone else ever observed this and have a probable diagnosis?

Thank you all for your input.

Russ

 

[AR1]

Any dead ones?

 

[Litsinger]

Thanks for the reply, AR1.

Surprisingly, they all appeared to be alive (albeit flightless) on the ground.

48 hours later and the ants have disposed of all of the evidence and the hive appears normal from external observation.

 

[msl]

I was watching this to see if any one knew...
Gynandromorphs?
see bottom of the page
http://www.glenn-apiaries.com/oddball.html
https://books.google.com/books?id=N...Gynandromorphs worker head drone body&f=false

 

[Litsinger]

MSL:

Thank you for your reply. You may be on to something.

When I searched 'Gynandromorph' I came up with the following articles/paper- who knew worker bees often are comprised of sperm from more than one drone?

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-honeybee-gynandromorph-fathers-mother.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2018/11/28/a-honeybee-with-two-fathers-and-no-mother/amp/

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0670

 

[Litsinger]

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/08/rare-bee-mutations/