The National Bee Unit Common Pests, Diseases and Disorders of the Adult Honey Bee ii Pollination Pollination Pollinating insects provide almost incalculable economic and ecological benefits to humans, flowering plants and wildlife. Pollination by bees and other insects is the first step in the flowering/ fruiting process resulting in the production of vegetables and fruits. This essential nutrition comprises approximately 35% of the human diet. The production of 84% of crop species cultivated in Europe depends directly on pollinators. 70% of the 124 main crops used directly for human consumption in the world are dependent on pollinators. Honey bees are an important pollinator for many flora. The National Bee Unit National Agri-Food Innovation Campus Sand Hutton York YO41 Telephone +44 0300 3030094 Fax +44 (0)1904 462 111 Email [email protected] Website www.gov.uk/apha © Crown copyright 2017 Copyright in the typographical arrangement and design rests with the Crown. This publication (excluding the logo) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright with the title and source of the publication specified. Published by The Animal and Plant Health Agency. Printed in the UK, 2017, on material containing 80% post-consumer waste and 20% Elemental Chlorine Free pulp. About this leaflet iii About this leaflet Common Pests, Diseases and Disorders of the Adult Honey Bee Honey bee colonies are subject to a number of pests, infections, diseases and disorders that affect adult bees. This leaflet describes the recognition and management of some of the more common of these: Tracheal mites (acarapisosis), nosemosis, dysentery and certain viruses. Symptoms seen in a colony vary according to the type of organism causing the disease. Many of these symptoms are non-specific and their severity largely depends upon the vigour of the affected colony. The common pests and diseases of adult bees are generally less serious than the brood conditions of American foulbrood (AFB) or European foulbrood (EFB). However, it is still very important that beekeepers are aware of the causes and symptoms of adult bee disorders and the best practices that will help to minimise their effects. Acronyms AFB American foulbrood APHA The Animal and Plant Health Agency BBKA British Beekeepers’ Association BDI Bee Disease Insurance BFA Bee Farmers’ Association CBPV Chronic bee paralysis virus CCD Colony Collapse Disorder DARDNI Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland Defra Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs DWV Deformed wing virus EFB European foulbrood ISO International Standards Organisation IPI Insect Pollinators Initiative IPM Integrated Pest Management NBI National Bee Inspector NBU National Bee Unit OIE Office International des Epizooties RAS Random Apiary Survey RBI Regional Bee Inspector SASA Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture SBI Seasonal Bee Inspector VMD Veterinary Medicines Directorate WBKA Welsh Beekeepers’ Association WG Welsh Government 1 Contents Contents About this leaflet iii Contents 1 Help and advice 2 The National Bee Unit 2 BeeBase 2 Why is it so important to register on BeeBase? 3 How to sign up to BeeBase 3 How do I know that my details are secure? 3 Beekeeping Associations 3 Pests Diseases and Disorders of adult bees 4 Tracheal mites (acarapisosis) 5 Description of tracheal mite disease (acarapisosis) 5 Methods of transmission of tracheal mites 6 Symptoms of acarapisosis 6 Effects of acarapisosis on infested colonies 7 Diagnosis of tracheal mites 7 Treatment and control of tracheal mites 9 Nosema 9 Description of Nosema disease (nosemosis) 9 Methods of transmission of Nosema 9 Effects of Nosema on the colony 10 Diagnosis of Nosema infection 10 Dysentery 12 Treatment and control of Nosema 12 Description of dysentery 12 Dysentery as a symptom of poor diet 12 Dysentery and amoebic disease 12 Methods of transmission of amoeba 13 Symptoms and diagnosis of amoeba Treatment and control of dysentery 13 Viruses 14 The significance of honey bee viral diseases 14 Control of honey bee viruses – a general message 14 Symptoms and diagnosis of deformed wing virus (DWV) 14 Methods of transmission of DWV 15 Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) 15 Methods of transmission of CBPV 16 Treatment and control of CBPV 16 Diagnostic Services at the NBU 16 Useful addresses 17 References and Acknowledgements 18 Notes 19 Help and advice 2 Help and advice The National Bee Unit The NBU has broad research and development interests (current list outlined on BeeBase The National Bee Unit (NBU) provides an http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index. integrated statutory and advisory service to cfm?sectionid=48). Our portfolio covers beekeepers in England and Wales. It provides varroacide development, EU- wide colony diagnostic, consultancy and research services loss surveillance, risk assessment and novel to Defra, Welsh Government, the Scottish control methods for exotic pest threats and the Government, commerce and beekeepers. economics and biology of pollination. The NBU The NBU is a recognised centre of excellence is a contributor within the Insect Pollinators in the provision of advice and research in Initiative (IPI) (www.bbsrc.ac.uk/pollinators), bee health. The Unit’s laboratories are fully leading research into systems that model the compliant with ISO 9001 quality schemes to epidemiology of disease to enable improved ensure a high professional standard, and use as management in the future. We are also using a base, the Office International des Epizooties advanced molecular techniques to identify (OIE) Manuals of Standard diagnostic tests specific bacterial strain types, which will add for laboratory diagnosis. Most staff are trained to our understanding of the spread of serious practical beekeepers as well as scientists and brood diseases. The NBU works in partnership are supported by teams of specialists across with many Universities and organisations both the rest of the Animal and Plant Health Agency in the UK and overseas to achieve these shared (APHA) and Fera Science Limited. research goals. The Unit has modern facilities, including laboratories with computer support through BeeBase (see next section), as well as 150 colonies and the apiary buildings to support them. BeeBase is the NBU’s award winning website. The NBU has a bee health inspection and BeeBase contains all the apicultural information advisory service operating in England and relating to the statutory bee health programme Wales, comprising a regional network of in England and Wales. In June 2010, the Inspectors. The head of field inspection services information for the Scottish inspections is the National Bee Inspector (NBI). Regional programme was also incorporated into Bee Inspectors (RBIs) reporting to the NBI BeeBase. BeeBase contains a wide range of manage teams of Seasonal Bee Inspectors beekeeping information, such as the activities of (SBIs) throughout England and Wales. As the NBU, the bee related legislation, pests and well as the statutory inspections and apiary diseases information including their recognition surveillance programme, Bee Inspectors provide and control, interactive maps, current research free advice and assistance to beekeepers on areas, publications, advisory leaflets and key a range of bee health issues and run training contacts. To access this information visit the courses for beekeepers on disease recognition, NBU website (www.nationalbeeunit.com). Many disease control and good husbandry, often in beekeepers find this website to be a very useful conjunction with local Beekeeping Associations. source of information and advice. In addition The NBU team delivers around 500 training to the public pages of the BeeBase website, events every year. Bee Inspectors also assist registered users can view their own apiary with field trials within the NBU’s Research and records, diagnostic histories and details. Development programmes. For further information contact the NBU, who will put you in touch with the appropriate Bee Inspector for your area, or visit the NBU’s BeeBase website key contacts pages (http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/ Contacts/contacts.cfm). 3 Help and advice Why is it so important to or any details about your bees or beekeeping without your consent. Although BeeBase register on BeeBase? includes public pages containing information As well as containing useful information on such as disease, colony losses, leaflets, useful beekeeping, BeeBase is a vital tool in the links and much more general information, control of bee disease and pests. Where the public has no access to your or other statutory pests or diseases (for example, beekeepers’ details. foulbrood) are confirmed, the NBU can use BeeBase to identify apiaries at risk in the local area and, as a result, target control measures Beekeeping Associations effectively. By knowing where bees are, we In many areas, Beekeeping Associations can help you manage disease risks in your operate disease control training schemes and apiaries. Such risks include the incursion of provide practical advice and advisory leaflets serious exotic pest threats (for example Small to members on bee disease recognition and hive beetle). The more beekeepers who are management. registered, the more rigorous our bee health Contact your local Beekeeping Association or surveillance can be and, crucially, the better our bee health advisor for details (England – www. chances of eliminating pests and diseases. bbka.org.uk; Wales – www.wbka.com and the Bee Farmers Association – http://beefarmers. How to sign up to BeeBase co.uk/). If you are not yet registered please visit the public pages of BeeBase where you can sign up Figure 1: Fera Science Limited laboratory, Sand online at: www.nationalbeeunit.com. Otherwise Hutton, York you can get in touch with the NBU office team who will be happy to help. You can email us at: [email protected] or contact us by telephone on: 0300 3030094. By telling us who you are, you will be playing a very important part in helping to maintain and sustain honey bees for the future.