Questions for beekeepers Questions for beekeepers 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 every month! 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_GBAnd on Apple store https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/asian-hornet-watch/id1161238813 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 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