PSU | MAAREC – Mid Atlantic Apiculture Research & Extension Consortium

Mar

Renewed Cost-sharing Program for Pesticide Analysis of Honey Bee Colony Matrices

https://agdev.anr.udel.edu/maarec/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/PrelimLosses2009.pdf

Sep

Penn State Live Press Release “Bee Researchers Close in on Colony Collapse Disorder

http://live.psu.edu/story/25747

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$* A condition, not a disease. * Caused by and excessive amount of water in a bee\'s body. * Prolonged confinement during winter * Consumption of food with a high water content * Colonies located in moist areas or areas with poor drainage * A symptom of nosema disease Dysentery, a diarrhea-like condition, is a symptom caused by the buildup of excessive amount of fluid in a bee\'s gut and the inability of the bees to retain waste products in their bodies as they normally do. Unable to wait until cleansing flights are possible, these bees void their feces on the combs, at the hive entrance and on the exterior of the hive. Factors leading to this situation include nosema disease, prolonged confinement during winter and early spring consumption of food with a high water content. Colonies located in moist areas or areas with poor air drainage may often exhibit signs of dysentery. To prevent dysentery, make sure hives are stocked with high-quality food and are well-ventilated. If fall feeding is necessary, be sure to do it early enough so that the bees can properly ripen their stores. Hives should be rainproof and situated in a dry location. Good air circulation is important. There is no effective treatment for dysentery.$

$The only positive way of identifying nosema disease is through the dissection of adult bees. The hind gut and digestive tract of diseased bees are chalky white or milky white. Healthy bees, on the other hand, have amber or translucent digestive tracts. In addition, the individual circular constrictions of a healthy bee\'s gut are visible, whereas the gut of an infected bee may be swollen and the constrictions may not be clearly visible.$