Brood Diseases

Brood Disease

TABLE 2 - Characteristics of Brood Disease
Disease American Foulbrood European Foulbrood Sacbrood

Causative organism Bacillus larvae Bacillus pluton Virus

Manner of spread Contaminated honey Not definitely known Not known

Age brood attacked After cells are capped 4 or 5 days old, before cells are caped Just after capping

Appearance of capping Often sunken & perforated Affected brood mostly uncapped Sunken caps less noticeable than with AFB, some with two holes

Proportion of brood affected Usually much Usually much Usually little

Larval color Turn yellow, brown, & finally coffee brown Yellow; gray; brown Dirty white to black with the head end darker

Larval consistency Sticky & elastic Slimy, nonelastic Like a sack of water

Odor Foul, burnt glue smell Slight to strong sour odor No odor

Larval position Lengthwise along lower side of cell In any position but usually curled at the cell bottom Lengthwise along the lower side of cell, becomes mummified

Scales Dark scale glued to cell wall; brittle Brown scale easily removed; tough & rubbery Black scale easily removed; brittle

Control Treat with drugs for prevention & burn infected colonies Requeening; heavy feeding; feed terramycin Requeen & Strenghthen colony

If you suspect disease in your colony, consult with an experienced beekeeper or contact the Department of Entomology, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601.

TABLE 2 - Characteristics of Brood Disease
Disease	American Foulbrood	European Foulbrood	Sacbrood
Causative organism	Bacillus larvae	Bacillus pluton	Virus
Manner of spread	Contaminated honey	Not definitely known	Not known
Age brood attacked	After cells are capped	4 or 5 days old, before cells are caped	Just after capping
Appearance of capping	Often sunken & perforated	Affected brood mostly uncapped	Sunken caps less noticeable than with AFB, some with two holes
Proportion of brood affected	Usually much	Usually much	Usually little
Larval color	Turn yellow, brown, & finally coffee brown	Yellow; gray; brown	Dirty white to black with the head end darker
Larval consistency	Sticky & elastic	Slimy, nonelastic	Like a sack of water
Odor	Foul, burnt glue smell	Slight to strong sour odor	No odor
Larval position	Lengthwise along lower side of cell	In any position but usually curled at the cell bottom	Lengthwise along the lower side of cell, becomes mummified
Scales	Dark scale glued to cell wall; brittle	Brown scale easily removed; tough & rubbery	Black scale easily removed; brittle
Control	Treat with drugs for prevention & burn infected colonies	Requeening; heavy feeding; feed terramycin	Requeen & Strenghthen colony
If you suspect disease in your colony, consult with an experienced beekeeper or contact the Department of Entomology, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601.