Varroa Mites

Signs: Deformed wings, reduced bee population, spotty brood pattern, visible mites on bees.

Monitoring: Sticky boards, alcohol wash, sugar roll, drone brood inspection.

Treatment Options: Formic acid, oxalic acid, thymol, Apivar, powdered sugar dusting.

American Foulbrood (AFB)

Signs: Sunken, perforated cappings; ropey dead brood; foul odor.

Monitoring: Visual inspection, AFB test kits.

Treatment: Report to local authorities immediately. Antibiotics with veterinary prescription; burning infected equipment may be required.

Nosema

Signs: Dysentery (spotting on hive exterior), weak colonies, reduced honey production.

Monitoring: Microscopic examination of gut contents; field symptoms.

Treatment: Fumagilin-B (where available), good ventilation, maintaining strong colonies.

Small Hive Beetle

Signs: Adult beetles in hive, slimed frames, fermented honey.

Monitoring: Visual inspection, beetle traps.

Treatment: Beetle traps, maintaining strong colonies that police the hive, ground drench for pupae.

• Maintain strong, populous colonies
• Regular and thorough hive inspections
• Good apiary hygiene — clean equipment, replace old comb
• Proper nutrition — diverse, abundant forage
• Genetic resistance through thoughtful queen selection
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices
• Proper ventilation and moisture control

Regular monitoring is essential. Use these tools to stay ahead of health issues:

• Sticky boards for Varroa mite drop counts
• Alcohol wash kit (most accurate for live mite loads)
• Sugar roll test equipment
• Microscope for Nosema spore detection
• Hive scale for monitoring weight changes
• Temperature and humidity sensors
• Consistent record keeping system

Proper nutrition is the foundation of immune health in bees. Access our database of bee forage plants to plan your pasture and fill seasonal gaps.

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