Honey Bee A healthy worker Small hive beetle Ants MAAREC/Penn State The key to brood pattern is easy (Aethina tumida) Ants usually are not serious pests in honey bee colonies. to recognize: brood protecting Development The small hive beetle, Occasionally, however, certain species may enter colonies Extension Materials cappings are medium North America’s new- to search for food or honey bee colo- Queen honey bee brown in color, convex, est beekeeping pest, establish nesting sites. Publications nies from harmful A healthy honey bee colony has and without punc- was first identified in Ants typically are found Beekeeping Basics. 2004. Basic beginning three distinct types of individu- tures. Healthy capped Florida in the spring between the inner and diseases, para- beekeeping text. $7.50. als: queen, worker, and drone. worker brood normally of 1998. This pest outer covers of the hive sites, and other The queen is an especially appears as a solid pat- originated in Africa. The and in pollen traps. Order from: Penn State College of Agricultural pests is important individual in the col- tern of cells with only adult beetle is small Although ants seldom Sciences Publication Distribution Center, 112 Ag ony, as she is the only actively a few uncapped cells; the ability to (about one-third the disturb the bees, they Administration Bldg., University Park, PA 16802. reproductive female and gener- these may contain eggs, size of a bee), black or brown, and covered with fine hair. The can be a nuisance to the Phone: 814-865-6713. identify ally lays all the eggs. uncapped larvae, nectar, or pollen. larvae are small, cream-colored grubs without prolegs. beekeeper. problems Videos early. This bro- Why Honey Bees? 1993. A 30-minute video for the Bee louse Mice public on the importance of honey bees. $35.00. chure is a quick (Braula coeca) Mice are a serious pest of stored combs and may inhabit Honey Bee Parasites, Varroa Mites: Life Cycle, Detection, and Control. NEW Braula coeca, commonly active honey bee colonies during the fall and winter months. reference 13-minute video. $25.00. known as the bee louse, to common Pests, and Predators These rodents chew actually is a wingless Order from: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Varroa mite (Varroa combs and frames to honey bee mala- fly. The adults are small destructor) make room for building Communications and Marketing, 229 Ag Administration (slightly smaller than the Bldg. University Park, PA 16802. Phone: 814-863-2822. dies. The varroa mite is con- their nests. Mice urinate head of a straight pin), sidered by many to be on combs and frames, For a more and reddish-brown in Slide Sets the most serious malady making bees reluctant detailed treat- color. Although several of honey bees. It now to use the combs or Honey Bee Diseases. 1998. Set of 53 slides and script. $60.00. adult flies may live on ment of Healthy C-shaped larvae occurs nearly worldwide. clean out these nests in a queen, usually only one will be found on a worker. These Honey Bee Parasites, Pests, and Predators. 1998. Slide set It is important to be able to This external parasite the spring. this subject, pests apparently do little harm. of 74 slides and script. $60.00 identify healthy brood stages. feeds on the hemo- including Healthy worker, queen, and lymph (blood) of adult Order from: The Penn State Department of descriptions of drone larvae are pearly white in bees, larvae, Skunks Entomology, 501 ASI Building, University Park, Larval greater wax In some locations, skunks are a serious threat to successful PA 16802. Phone: 814-865-1895. symptoms and color with a glistening appear- and pupae. moth (Galleria beekeeping since they hamper the development of strong ance. They are curled in a “C” mellonella) approved shape on the bottom of the cell colonies. Being insectivorous (insect eating), skunks will raid Computer Program Larvae of the greater and continue to grow during the Honey bee bee yards nightly, scratch on hive entrances, and consume Bee Aware: A Management Tool for the Diagnosis and treatments and wax moth cause con- larval period, eventually filling tracheal mite large numbers of bees. Although such attacks are most com- Control of Honey Bee Diseases, Parasites, Pests, and control siderable damage to their cell. (Acarapis woodi) mon in the spring, they also can occur throughout the sum- Predators. A CD-ROM for Windows. $50.00. beeswax combs left measures, A second mite that mer and fall. unattended by bees. Order from: The Penn State Department of Entomology, infests honey bees is the refer to Honey Beeswax combs in weak 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA 16802. Phone: honey bee tracheal mite. or dead colonies and 814-865-1895. Bee Parasites, This internal parasitic Bears those placed in storage Pests, mite lives within the Bears are a serious threat to beekeeping operations, since are subject to attack. tracheae, or breathing they do a great deal of damage to hives and equipment. Predators, and Wax moths pose a continuous threat except when tubes, inside the thorax They normally visit apiaries at night, smashing the hives temperatures drop below 40oF. Diseases, avail- of adult honey bees. to eat brood and honey. Once bears locate an apiary, they able from the Tracheal mites also may be found in air sacs in the thorax, return again and again, and it becomes exceedingly difficult abdomen, and head. The mites pierce the breathing tube to control their marauding behavior. address Spiders, earwigs, and cockroaches walls with their mouth parts and feed on the hemolymph, or on the back of blood, of the bees. Beehives provide shelter to a number of large and small arthropods such as spiders, earwigs, and this brochure. cockroaches. These are not harmful to the bees or hive equipment and do not require control. Normal sealed in their cells, the mycelia break through the gut wall Brood Diseases and invade the larval tissues until the entire larva is over- Adult Diseases American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae = come. This process generally takes from 2 to 3 days. Paralysis Bacillus larvae) Paralysis is a symptom American foulbrood of adult honey bees and (AFB) is an infectious Sacbrood usually is associated brood disease caused by Sacbrood, a disease with viruses. Two differ- a spore-forming bacte- caused by a virus, usu- ent viruses, chronic bee rium. It is the most wide- ally does not result in paralysis virus (CPV) spread and destructive severe losses. It is most and acute bee paralysis of the brood diseases, common during the virus (APV), have been A Quick Reference Guide to afflicting queen, drone, first half of the brood- isolated from paralytic and worker larvae alike. rearing season. It often bees. Other suspected Adult bees, however, are goes unnoticed, since causes of paralysis include: pollen and nectar from plants For additional information, not affected by AFB. This it affects usually only a such as buttercup, rhododendron, laurel, and some species Honey disease occurs in two forms: vegetative (rod-shaped bacte- small percentage of the of basswood; pollen deficiencies during brood rearing in the visit the MAAREC Web site at rial cells) and spores. The spore stage is unique to this type brood. Adult bees typically detect and remove infected lar- early spring; and consumption of fermented stored pollen. MAAREC.cas.psu.edu or contact of bacteria, as it may persist for 40 years or more. vae quickly. Often, if sacbrood is widespread enough for the MAAREC, Bee beekeeper to observe the symptoms, the disease may be so 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA 16802. Parasites, Pests, severe that the adult worker population is reduced. Nosema (Nosema Phone 814-865-1895. European foulbrood (Melissococcus pluton) apis) MAAREC is an official activity of five land-grant universities and the U. S. Predators, and Diseases European foulbrood (EFB) is a bacterial brood disease. It is Nosema disease is Department of Agriculture. considered a stress disease and is most prevalent in spring Bee parasitic mite caused by a spore- • Penn State, University Park, Pennsylvania syndrome (BPMS) and early summer. It is forming protozoan that • Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey less serious than AFB, This situation most invades the digestive • USDA/ARS, Bee Research Lab, Beltsville, Maryland and colonies can recover likely is associated with tracts of honey bee • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware from infections. EFB does varroa mites, viruses, or workers, queens, and • University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland a combination of both. not form spores, but often drones. Nosema spores • West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia overwinters on combs. It Affected larvae die in are ingested with food or gains entry into the larva the late larval or pre- water by the adult bee. Visit Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences on the Web: agsci.psu.edu in contaminated brood pupal stage, stretched The spores germinate and multiply within the lining of the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education food and multiplies rap- out in their cells often bee’s midgut. Millions of spores are shed into the digestive programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylva- idly within the gut of the with their heads slightly tract and are eliminated in the feces. nia, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. larva. raised. In the early stage of infection, they are white but dull This publication is available from the Publications Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania rather than glistening, and they look deflated. This is one of State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. For information telephone 814-865-6713. a complex of symptoms that has been given the name “Bee Deformed wings Chalkbrood Parasitic Mite Syndrome” or BPMS. Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by the (Ascophaera apis) Adult bees with Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences is implied. College of Agricultural Sciences Chalkbrood, a fungal brood disease of honey bees, is caused deformed wings and This publication is available in alternative media on request. Cooperative Extension by a spore-forming fungus. Worker, drone, and queen larvae bodies are common in The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have are susceptible. Spores of honey bee colonies with equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to the fungus are ingested varroa mite infestations. personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined with the larval food. The by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to These deformities most maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harass- spores germinate in the likely are caused by var- ment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against hind gut of the bee larva, roa mites feeding on the any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, but mycelial (vegetative) bees as they develop, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Discrimination growth is arrested until or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania a virus (deformed wing State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirma- the larva is sealed in its virus), or perhaps a combination of both. tive Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University cell. When larvae are Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY. about 6 or 7 days old and © The Pennsylvania State University 2002 MAAREC The Mid-Atlantic Apicultural Research and U.Ed. AGR 02-97 Extension Consortium: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and CODE # UF013 Rev05/10webpdf4329 the USDA cooperating.