Do you recognise this health picture? Explain what you see.
- European foulbrood, a bacterial brood disease.
- Banded brood associated with wax moth.
- Deformed Wing Virus: DWV.
- American foulbrood, a bacterial brood disease.
- Chalkbrood, a fungal brood disease.
- Nosemosis affecting mainly adult bees.
- Healthy colony.
Show answer
Correct answer: 7.
Healthy colony with regular brood.
Why?
A healthy colony is recognised first by a coherent set of favourable signs. The brood is overall regular, the larvae have a normal appearance, and the bees occupy the combs properly.
In the expected image, one should not look for a spectacular lesion, but recognise the absence of warning signals: no brownish or flaccid larvae, no strongly sunken or perforated cappings, no chalkbrood mummies, no bees with deformed wings.
Identifying a healthy colony is an important skill, because it then makes it easier to recognise the truly suspicious deviations.
What to understand
A healthy colony is not necessarily a perfect colony. A few empty cells, a slight irregularity, or differences in brood age may be normal depending on the season, colony strength, the nectar flow, and the age of the queen.
Observation must always bear on the overall picture: a sufficient population, brood of different ages, stores present, calm behaviour, and the absence of suspicious odour or degradation.
In case of doubt with a brood disease, it is better to remain cautious: limit handling, do not move suspect equipment, and seek competent advice.
Key takeaways
A healthy colony generally shows regular brood, white and well-fed larvae, active bees, and suitable stores.
The absence of visible symptoms does not replace a complete observation, but it constitutes an essential reference point for learning to recognise diseases.
In case of a health concern, the right reflex is to ask the apiary inspector for advice rather than to intervene alone.
Further reading
► Practical Guide: 4.7.3 Recognising healthy colonies
► Practical Guide poster: How to recognise diseases