[BroRed]

I cleaned this out of the bottom of my hive last fall (I thought I had lost the pictures but just found them). Can anyone tell me what I have here? Is it sacbrood?

The hive didn't make it through the winter, do I need to clean the frames, boxes? I have 10 frames almost completely drawn out and would hate to destroy them...

Thanks from a fairly new Utah keeper.

 

[RayMarler]

It looks like chalk brood to me. Don't destroy anything. Take the frames and hold them level sideways and tap the top bars on a bench or table to knock out anything loose in the combs. Use the hive tool and scrape off any excessive burr comb or propolis off the frames and hive boxes. Let them air dry in the sun a few days and put your packages in them this year. Chalk brood can be set off by cooler moist temperatures, however, it does run in the genetics of the bees also, so I would advise getting bees this year from a different supplier than where you got yours from last year. Don't stress to much and have fun!

 

[G3farms]

Yep it looks like chalk brood to me also. Ray gave the same advice I would have given also.

 

[sqkcrk]

Yup, chalk brood, for sure.

 

[BroRed]

Thank you for the information, I am getting a packet from a different supplier than last year even though the other hive I got is doing great. I'm glad I don't have to get rid of all of that drawn comb.

I opened the hive a couple of days ago to do a good clean and there were dead bees in several of the cell on some of the frames. Do I need to remove the bodies or will the new bees do some house cleaning. Is there a possibility of contamination from the old swarm?

Thank you again for the help, it is amazing how something so simple is not...

Greg

 

[BroRed]

Thank you for the information, I am getting a packet from a different supplier than last year even though the other hive I got is doing great. I'm glad I don't have to get rid of all of that drawn comb.

I opened the hive a couple of days ago to do a good clean and there were dead bees in several of the cell on some of the frames. Do I need to remove the bodies or will the new bees do some house cleaning. Is there a possibility of contamination from the old swarm?

Thank you again for the help, it is amazing how something so simple is not...

Greg