Questions for beekeepers~


Currently we have a BBKA News survey for members to fill in.

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This page will have new questions added regularly. The questions are for beekeepers and will help provide feedback on topics and issues for those involved in beekeeping. Bookmark the page and return regularly. 

The Tom Seeley Videos are available here

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Previous Questions Results

Do you know how much EFB is in your area?
EFB is caused by the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. Larvae become infected by consuming contaminated food fed by the nurse bees. The bacteria multiply within the larval gut, competing with it for food. They remain in the gut and do not invade larval tissue; larvae that die from the disease do so because they have been starved of food. This normally occurs shortly before the cells are capped.
NBU has a presentation about it here

Registering on BeeBase is free and gives you updates on disease incidence in your area.
There are many useful leaflets on BeeBase for you to download and read. Please register today if you have not already done so for alerts.

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Have you downloaded the Asian hornet app yet?
It's available at the Google Play Store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.ac.ceh.hornets&hl=en_GB
And on Apple store https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/asian-hornet-watch/id1161238813

Asian Hornet Week 2020 is 7-13 September Find out more 

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Sacbrood is a relatively common disease during the first half of the brood-rearing season and can often go unnoticed, affecting only a small percentage of the brood. It does not usually cause severe colony loss.

• Initially during an infection, the virus particles replicate in the developing larva, which appear to develop normally until after being capped over. Typical symptoms include:
• The infected larva then turns from its usual pearly white to a pale yellow colour;
• The larva will eventually die and begin to dry out, turning a dark brown to black colour, giving rise to the characteristic ‘Chinese slippers’ or ‘gondola-shaped’ scales;
• As the larvae die, the workers will uncap the cells to expose them, creating an uneven brood pattern with discoloured, sunken or perforated cappings scattered through the brood cells;
• The skin of the dead larva also changes into a tough plastic-like sac, which is filled with fluid. It is this stage of infection that gives the virus its name.
  
  You can read more about sacbrood at the National Bee Unit's page  http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageId=198

There are pictures of bee pests and diseases at the National Bee Unit website Gallery 
As well as  Advisory Leaflets, Training Manuals & Fact Sheets

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May 2020 - Wax moth question - Useful links 
NBU Wax moth page which includes links to 

• Further information about the biology and identification features of all stages of wax moth can be found on the COLOSS website.
• Wax moth leaflet- Pdf.

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=207

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