Graduate Research Assistant Washington State University Pullman, Washington
American foulbrood is a deadly disease afflicting honey bee colonies worldwide. The causative agent is the spore forming bacteria, Paenibacillus larvae. These spores are extremely durable and nearly impossible to remove from many components of the hive. Once a colony is infected, it is often a death sentence, with some regions requiring the destruction of the entire colony and contaminated equipment. Diagnostic techniques include the rope test, lateral flow devices, the Holst milk test, and microscopic evaluation. Techniques to manage this disease include sterilization of hive tools and other equipment, antibiotic treatments, transferring the adult bees to clean equipment, and burning the hive, with or without the bees. This infographic provides a practical guide to these methods of diagnosing and managing American foulbrood.
