Virginia Apiculture Links

Virginia State Beekeepers Association

Richard Fell
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech
324 Price Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: 540-231-7207
Email: rfell@vt.edu

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$The beetle lays its eggs on or near beeswax combs. The eggs hatch, producing small larvae, similar in appearance to wax moth larvae. You can differentiate the beetle larvae from wax moth larvae by examining their legs. Both species have three sets of legs just behind the head, but small hive beetles larvae lack the series of paired prolegs that run the length of the wax moth larvae\'s body. Small hive beetle larvae consume pollen and comb but also will eat larval honey bees. After completing the larval stage, they crawl out of the hive and pupate in the soil. Adult beetles will feed on honey bee eggs.$

$Brood combs in an infected colony have a scattered and irregular pattern of capped and uncapped cells. Infected cells are discolored, sunken, and often have punctured cappings. This \"pepperbox\" appearance contrasts with the yellowish-brown, convex, and entirely sealed cells of a healthy brood comb.$

$* Caused by: Nosema apis * Spore-forming protozoan * Adult disease * Infection of digestive tract Nosema disease, is caused by a spore-forming protozoan, Nosema apis, that invades the digestive tracts of honey bee workers, queens, and drones. Nosema spores are ingested with food or water by the adult bee. The spores germinate and multiply within the lining of the bee\'s midgut. Millions of spores are shed into the digestive tract and are eliminated in the feces.$

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

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