Do you recognise this problem on the brood? Explain what you see.
- European foulbrood, a bacterial brood disease.
- Chalkbrood, a fungal brood disease.
- Healthy colony with regular brood.
- Banded brood associated with wax moth.
- American foulbrood, a bacterial brood disease.
- Deformed Wing Virus: DWV.
- Nosemosis affecting mainly adult bees.
Show answer
Correct answer: 4.
Banded brood associated with wax moth.
Why?
Banded brood, also called bald brood, is recognised by brood cells whose capping is absent, open, or abnormally domed. The pupa may then be visible in the cell.
This picture is generally linked to the galleries dug by wax moth larvae under the cells. These galleries alter the space available for the development of the bee larvae or pupae and disrupt normal capping.
One can sometimes observe a small rim of wax around the opening, as well as the droppings of wax moth larvae in the form of small greyish or black rods.
What to understand
The wax moth is above all an opportunistic pest. It develops more easily in weak colonies, in areas poorly occupied by the bees, or on combs stored under poor conditions.
Banded brood should not be confused with a foulbrood. It is not characterised first by a stringy larva, a typical odour, or strongly adherent scales, but by a mechanical disturbance of the cells linked to the wax moth galleries.
The presence of banded brood should therefore prompt a check of colony strength, the occupancy of the combs, the quality of comb storage, and the possible presence of wax moth traces.
Key takeaways
The key sign is the abnormal opening of several neighbouring cells, with visible pupae and sometimes a rim of wax.
The probable cause is the presence of wax moth galleries under the brood cells.
Prevention relies on strong colonies, few unoccupied combs, regular renewal of old combs, and storage of combs in a cool, ventilated, and controlled place.
Further reading
► Practical Guide: 2.6 Wax moth
► Practical Guide: 4.4.2 Comb storage