The old saying “an ounce of prevention” is certainly true for beekeeping because prevention still remains the most effective approach to keep your hives thriving, as many bee diseases have limited treatment options once established.
The best advice to keep your bee hives healthy is early detection combined with proper management practices. This helps provide the best outcomes for colony health and survival.[5][11][1][28]
Parasitic Infestations
Varroa Mites – The #1 Enemy of Honey Bees
Description and Impact
Varroa mites (Varroa destructor and V. jacobsoni) are the most serious threat to honey bee colonies worldwide. These reddish-brown parasites, measuring about 1.1 mm long, feed on bee hemolymph (blood) and reproduce inside capped brood cells. They significantly weaken individual bees and vector numerous viruses, including deformed wing virus.[1][2][3][4][5]
Treatment Options
| Treatment Type | Active Ingredient | Application Method | Efficacy | Notes |
| Apivar | Amitraz | Polymer strips (2 per deep box, 6-8 weeks) | Very high (95%+) | Most popular synthetic treatment[6][3][4] |
| Apistan | Fluvalinate | Strips (1 per 5 frames, 42-56 days) | High | Resistance concerns in some areas[6] |
| Apiguard | Thymol | Foil packs (2 treatments, 2 weeks each) | Good | Temperature dependent[6][4] |
| Mite Away Quick Strips | Formic acid | Strips (10 days in brood box) | Good | Penetrates cappings[6][4] |
| Oxalic acid | Oxalic acid | Vapor or dribble method | Moderate | Best during broodless periods[4] |
Integrated Management Approach
The most effective strategy combines multiple treatments throughout the year to prevent resistance development. Monitor mite levels monthly using alcohol washes or sugar rolls, maintaining levels below 2 mites per 100 bees.[4]
Tracheal Mites (Acarine)
Description
Acarapis woodi infests the breathing tubes (tracheae) of adult bees, causing shortened lifespans and “spring dwindling” when winter bee populations die prematurely.[7][8][9]
Treatment Options
- Apiguard (thymol): Effective for tracheal mite control[7]
- Menthol crystals: Traditional treatment requiring high temperatures[8][7]
- Grease patties: Vegetable shortening mixed with sugar (1:3 ratio) disrupts mite transfer between bees[9]
- Requeening: Replace queens with resistant genetic stock (Buckfast bees show high resistance)[8][7]
Prevention: Select resistant bee stocks and maintain strong colonies.
Bacterial Diseases
American Foulbrood (AFB)
Description
The most serious bacterial disease, caused by Paenibacillus larvae spores that kill larvae and create highly infectious conditions lasting decades on equipment.[10][11][1]
Treatment
- Antibiotics: Oxytetracycline (spring) or Tylosin (fall) as preventative measures[10]
- Burning: Complete destruction of infected equipment and colonies[10]
- Gamma radiation: Sterilization of salvageable equipment at 1.2 megarads[10]
Management: Never transfer combs from infected colonies. Maintain strong colonies and practice good hygiene.
European Foulbrood (EFB)
Description
Caused by Melissococcus plutonius bacteria, generally less severe than AFB but can weaken colonies significantly.[1][10]
Treatment
- Requeening: Replace infected combs with new foundation[12][10]
- Antibiotic treatment: Same protocols as AFB prevention[12][10]
- Colony strengthening: Ensure adequate nutrition and reduce stress factors[12]
Fungal Diseases
Chalkbrood
Description
Ascosphaera apis fungus kills larvae, creating white or gray-black chalk-like mummies visible in combs and hive entrances.[13][14][15]
Treatment Approach
- No chemical treatments available[14][16][13]
- Requeening: Replace with hygienic, resistant stock[17][13][14]
- Environmental management: Improve ventilation, relocate to sunny areas, tilt hives forward for drainage[13][17]
- Comb replacement: Remove heavily infected combs and replace with foundation[15][17][13]
- Apiguard: Some evidence of effectiveness though not specifically approved for chalkbrood[14]
Prevention: Maintain strong colonies, ensure good nutrition, and select hygienic bee stocks.
Viral Diseases
Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)
Description
Closely associated with Varroa mites, DWV causes twisted wings, bloated abdomens, and shortened lifespans. Asymptomatic in adults but devastating when transmitted to developing brood.[18][19][20]
Treatment
- Varroa control: Primary treatment method since mites vector the virus[20]
- Novel approaches: Research shows promise for antibody treatments (anti-DWV IgY) that can reduce viral loads by 3-8 fold[19]
- Cold plasma ionized hydrogen peroxide: Laboratory studies show 10,000-fold reduction in viral infectivity[18]
Sacbrood Virus
Description
Common spring virus causing larvae to fail pupation, remaining as fluid-filled sacs in cells. Often resolves naturally during nectar flows.[21][22][23]
Treatment
- No chemical treatments available[22][23]
- Queen management: Cage queen for 2 weeks or requeen with resistant stock[24][21]
- Colony strengthening: Maintain strong, healthy colonies with adequate nutrition[23][22]
- Herbal treatments: Chinese medicine research shows promise with indigowoad root (Radix isatidis) increasing larval survival from 43% to 93%[21]
Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV)
Description
Causes massive worker losses in strong colonies, with symptoms including paralysis, black hairless bees, and shortened abdomens.[25][26]
Treatment
- Queen replacement and shook swarm method: Break the viral transmission cycle[26]
- Varroa control: Address concurrent infestations that may worsen viral impacts[26]
- Colony management: Reduce crowding by adding hive boxes and providing supplemental feeding[27]
- Sanitary measures: Remove dead bees and maintain clean hive environment[26]
Microsporidian Diseases
Nosema
Description
Nosema apis and N. ceranae are single-celled parasites that damage the mid-gut tissue of adult bees, causing dysentery and weakening colonies.[28][10]
Treatment
- Fumagilin-B: Feed medicated sugar syrup using direct-colony feeding methods for significant infections (>1 million spores/bee)[10]
- Requeening: Replace with hygienic, resistant stock[28][10]
- Colony management: Ensure adequate nutrition and reduce stress factors[28]
Small Hive Beetles
Description
Aethina tumida larvae consume honey, pollen, and brood, causing fermentation and colony abandonment.[29][30][31]
Management Strategies
- Cultural controls: Keep hives in sunny locations, maintain strong colonies, clean apiaries[29]
- Mechanical traps: Swiffer pads trap beetles effectively in hive corners[30]
- Beetle Blaster traps: Hold diatomaceous earth for chemical-free control[30]
- Biological control: Beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis indica) target beetle larvae in soil[29]
- Chemical controls: Pyrethroid soil drenches as last resort[31]
Integrated Disease Management
Key Principles:
- Regular monitoring: Monthly assessments for mites, weekly hive inspections
- Strong colonies: Well-fed, properly spaced colonies resist diseases better
- Genetic resistance: Select queens from hygienic, disease-resistant stock
- Sanitation: Clean equipment, replace old combs every 3-5 years
- Combination treatments: Rotate different treatment methods to prevent resistance
- Timing: Treat for Varroa after honey harvest, address diseases seasonally
Summary
Prevention remains the most effective approach, as many bee diseases have limited treatment options once established.
Early detection combined with proper management practices provides the best outcomes for colony health and survival.[5][11][1][28]
⁂
- https://www.mannlakeltd.com/blog/the-most-common-honey-bee-diseases/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diseases_of_the_honey_bee
- https://www.mannlakeltd.com/blog/varroa-mite-treatment-/
- https://extension.psu.edu/methods-to-control-varroa-mites-an-integrated-pest-management-approach/
- https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/beekeeping/hive-pests-diseases.aspx
- https://www.dadant.com/learn/three-options-for-fall-treatment-of-varroa-mites/
- https://www.vita-europe.com/beehealth/disease/tracheal-mites-acarine/
- https://britishbeevets.com/tracheal-mites-acarine/
- https://idtools.org/thebeemd/index.cfm?packageID=1180&entityID=8518
- https://www.ontariobee.com/sites/ontariobee.com/files/Treatment Recommendations 2017-11-02.pdf
- https://www.woah.org/en/disease/diseases-of-bees/
- https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/disease-management-and-guidelines-for-the-honey-bee
- https://www.mda.state.mn.us/chalkbrood-disease
- https://www.vita-europe.com/beehealth/disease/chalkbrood/
- https://bees.caes.uga.edu/beekeeping-resources/honey-bee-disorders/honey-bee-disorders-fungal-diseases.html
- https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/chalkbrood/
- https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AA138
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/insect-science/articles/10.3389/finsc.2023.1216291/full
- https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00497-24
- https://txbeeinspection.tamu.edu/deformed-wing-virus/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9505205/
- https://txbeeinspection.tamu.edu/sac-brood/
- https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/sacbrood/
- https://beehealth.uada.edu/assets/pages/beebroodconditions.html
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3798902/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7559786/
- https://www.honeyflow.com/blogs/pests-and-diseases/chronic-bee-paralysis-virus
- https://scientificbeekeeping.com/sick-bees-part-2-a-model-of-colony-collapse/
- https://canr.udel.edu/maarec/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2010/05/SMALL_HIVE_BEETLE_FACT_SHEET_1-29.pdf
- https://galenafarms.com/blogs/maintaining-a-hive/how-to-kill-small-hive-beetles
- https://academic.oup.com/jipm/article/13/1/7/6546674
- https://bees.caes.uga.edu/beekeeping-resources/honey-bee-disorders.html
- https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/60500500/PDFFiles/501-600/522-Sammataro–Standard methods for.pdf
- https://www.ecrotek.co.nz/learn/articles/detail/chalkbrood-in-honeybees-and-leafcutter
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z76OA242atY
