Introduction and Biosecurity
Adult honey bees can suffer from a number of pests and diseases, and in some instances these can cause the affected colony to weaken and die.
In cases of colony loss, we would always recommend that a beekeeper carries out a basic hive ‘post mortem’. This should involve checking for common issues such as queen problems, starvation and Varroa control.
Should the reason for the colony loss remain unclear after this examination, SASA offers a limited service where a sample of adult bees is examined for the presence of Acarine mites, Nosema and evidence of Varroa damage. Whilst the results of these tests often provide no further reason for colony loss to the beekeeper the information gathered from these samples allows us to monitor for trends in native pests and diseases, and to check for new threats to Scottish beekeeping. In any instance where colony loss remains undetermined or a transmissible pathogen such as Nosema, chalkbrood or virus is identified/suspected, it is recommended that equipment is sterilised and potentially contaminated material (such as comb) removed. Further information on hive cleaning and sterilising can be found on the national bee unit website.
Submitting a sample for analysis
The adult bees sampled should be as fresh as possible, contain a minimum of 30 bees, and be packaged in a crush resistant container, preferably cardboard. If a plastic container is used, then the bees should be wrapped in kitchen paper to prevent them degrading in transit.
Samples should be clearly labelled with the hive identifier and sent to "Bee Diseases" at the address in the ‘contact us’ box on the right of the screen. Please remember to include your own contact details for reporting of results and any information pertinent to the analysis. This may include the strength of the colony, management and treatment, and any unusual symptoms noted prior to the loss.
Advice without submitting a sample
Alternatively, you can get in touch with Scotland’s Apiculture Advisor Lorraine Johnston, SRUC, who may be able determine the reason for the colony loss based on the colony symptoms and hive management history. Lorraine can be contacted at Lorraine.Johnston@sruc.ac.uk - try to include as many details as possible:
- Contact details: name, phone number, BeeBase ID, Email address, postal address.
- Details of operation: number of hives / apiaries
- Full description of symptoms
- Digital photos (phone / camera ) if possible.
- Colony strength
- Management prior to the colony loss (or reported symptoms).
Further information on pests and diseases of honey bees
Additional information on pests and diseases affecting adult honey bees can be found in the advisory leaflet ‘Common Pests, Diseases and Disorders of the Adult Honey Bee’ on the [BeeBase] website.
SASA