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Bee diseases are part of life, even in a healthy hive.
There is a great deal more attention paid to honey bee diseases than diseases that affect native bees. This is partially because beekeeping is a commercial enterprise. As we kill off our commercial honey bees, however, native species are getting more press. They are our potential alternative pollinators. The focus of this page will be on diseases of hive-dwellers, but attention will also be paid to the ailments of native social and solitary species.Bee diseases generally fall into three categories: bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
| Bacteria and Bacterial Infections | | | What are bacteria?
Microscopic single-celled organisms that do not contain any genetic material. Many bacteria are helpful, but some are pathogenic (they cause disease). | | | Bacterial Infections in Bees  American Foul Brood (AFB): One of the most serious bacterial infections a hive can get is AFB because it can kill off an entire hive, and it can affect future colonies housed in infected equipment. The bacterium, Paenibacillus larvae produces spores which are transferred to <3 day old larvae (prior to the capping of their cells) through their brood food. The spores thrive in the guts of the larvae, and the latter end up starving to death as they are unable to compete for the limited food resources available. The disease is spread to rest of the hive via housekeeping bees, which clean brood cells of dead larvae. The disease is spread to other hives primarily via beekeepers who use infected equipment and comb within other colonies.
Note the spotty pattern of brood cells, and the darkened cappings of the cells themselves. More information about how to manage this problem can be found here. | | | European Foul Brood (EFB): Less potent and less widespread a bacterium in that a strong colony can withstand an outbreak, Melissococcus plutonius causes EFB. It is acquired by larvae in the same manner as AFB. The bacterium does not produce spores. Affected larvae have a chalky appearance, and after death darken in colour, with a consistency that is either rubbery or scaly in appearance. | | Viruses and Viral Infections | | | What are viruses?
Microscopic particles consisting of a) genetic material, b) a protective layer of proteins, and sometimes c) a coating of lipids. | | Fungi and Fungal Infections | | | What are fungi?
A wide range of diversity including single-celled organisms, such as yeast to complex and large fruit (mushrooms, for example). |
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