2. VIRAL DISEASES
Many virus types and strains have been recorded as disease pathogens of adult
bees and bee brood in past, nearly all are RNA viruses
Thai Sac-brood virus disease ( TSBV)
• The causative agent is Thai Sac-brood virus.
• This virus attacks specifically Apis cerena indica.
• It is isometric in shape with 30nm diameter with single stranded
RNA.
• It was first reported in 1978 from Meghalaya and in H.P. 1983.
• Combs have scattered and perforated brood.
• The dead brood lies straight in the cell but in sealed stage.
• The pupae turn into sac-like structures filled with lemon-
coloured liquid at the posterior end.
• In advanced stage, the larvae change their appearance from
yellowish to brownish to black colour.
• No discernible foul odour is noticed and can not be drawn
into rope like structure.
Symptoms
Control
• Prevention is better than cure. It is better to isolate the infected colonies.
• Requeen the colony.
• Treat with antibiotics like Oxytetracycline.
3. • Kashmir bee virus (KBV) infects many types of bees
including A. mellifera, the European honey bee .
• The virus effects both brood and adult bees.
• Infected adults die within a few days of exposure to the virus
but infected larvae may survive and develop into seemingly
unaffected adults.
• It was first reported in J&K in 1977. It is not serious in India
although serious in western country.
• It was first reported from north India in 1975.
• It is very common in both A. cerana and A. mellifera.
• It is caused by Apis iridescent virus (AIV), which have a
double stranded DNA genome and Polyhedral in shape.
• Symptoms are iridescence in the fat body and most other
internal organs.
• The virus divide in full body alimentary canal and ovary.
• Transmission takes place through fecal matter or by
ectoparasite.
Apis iridescent virus or clustering disease
Kashmir bee virus disease (KBV)
4. BACTERIAL DISEASES
• American foulbrood is a bee larvae affecting disease and is caused by
Paenibacillus larvae.
• In U.S. it is the most destructive of all bee diseases. The pathogen is a rod-
shaped, flagellate, motile bacillus highly resistant to heat, desiccation and
disinfectants.
American foulbrood disease (AFB)
• Irregular pattern of brood.
• Brood capping becomes discoloured, sunken, and often
punctured.
• Dead larvae lie upright in the cell.
• At first the dead brood is dull white in colour, but it
gradually changes to light brown, coffee brown, and
finally dark brown or almost black.
• Decaying brood become soft and gives a flesh like
odour.
• Larvae can be stretched into a rope like structure upto
2- 3 cm.
Symptoms
5. European foulbrood disease (EFB)
• This disease was first reported in 1885 from U.K. in A. mellifera and India
in 1970 from Maharashtra.
• The disease is found in all continents where A. mellifera colonies are kept.
• It is caused by non-spore-forming bacterium, Melissococcus plutonius.
• Diseased larvae appeared somewhat displaced in their cell.
• Infected larvae die at the age of 4-5 days.
• The colour of the larva changes as it decays from shiny
white to pale yellow and then to brown.
• A sour odour can be detected from the decayed larvae.
• A scattered pattern of sealed and unsealed brood is
observed in a diseased colony.
• Keep the colony strong by feeding sugar sap.
• Kill the infected colony and isolate the healthy stock.
• Disinfect the hive.
• Requeening can strengthen the colony.
• Treat with teramycin.
Symptoms
Control
6. FUNGAL DISEASES
• This disease is caused by a Microsporadium, Nosema apis/ N. ceranae.
• Nosema disease is generally regarded as one of the most destructive
diseases of adult bees, affecting workers, queens and drones alike.
Nosema disease
• The abdomen of an infected worker often
being swollen and shiny in appearance.
• Infected bee becomes dysenteric.
• Wings becomes disjointed and bee start
crawling in front of the hive.
• Yellow colour excreta form in the hive .
• Nurse bee stop rearing brood.
• Feed the colony with good strength of food.
• Keep the colony in open sunny sight.
• Provide clean and fresh water
• Sterilize the infected bee equipment
• Treat the colony by antibiotics Fumagillin and antakon
Symptoms
Control
7. • Chalkbrood is caused by the fungus Ascosphaera apis.
• It is very common in both A. cerana and Apis mellifera
• Brood becomes powder like and give chalk
like appearance.
• The colour of the dead larvae varies with the
stage of growth of the mycelia: first white,
then grey and finally black when infestation
is heavy.
Chalk brood disease
Symptoms
8. • Tracheal Mites
The tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi, causes Acarine disease of adults.
• The parasitic mite Varroa destructor
These mites are ectoparasitic and attack both Indian and Italian bees. It
feeds on early stage of larva and prepupa.
• Brood mite, Tropilaelaps clareae
These mites are serious ectoparasites on brood and adults of Apis mellifera.
They attack the brood and cause larval death.
Mites
Acarapis woodi Varroa destructor Tropilaelaps clareae
9. • Wax moths: The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella .
• Ant: The black ant, Camponotus compressus, the-household red ant, Dorylus
labiams and Monomorium spp. are dangerous enemies of the bee.
• Wasp: The yellow banded hornet, Vespa cincta .
• Wax beetles: The tenebrionid beetle, Platybolium alvearium , is found in the hives
under unhygienic conditions.
• Birds: King crow Dicrucus sp. and the bee cavers Merops spp. capture bees and
devour them.
• Others: Cockroaches, the Robber bee, the leaf cutter bee (Megachile
disjuncta), dragon flies and preying mantis, lizards, frogs, toads and Bears.
Other enemies
Galleria mellonella Camponotus compressus Dorylus labiams Vespa cincta Platybolium alvearium Dicrucus Merops
11. Honey
• It is consider to be first food to man.
• It is an aromatic, sweet, viscous material derived from the nectar of plants
with help of honey bee, modified and stored by them as denser liquid.
• Honey is composed of sugar these are of mainly two types- Dextrose
(32.81 %) and levulose (37.91 %), sucrose (1.66%), moisture (19%), ashes
(0.5-1%), plant material, acids, enzymes, vitamins and some dextrins.
Uses
As food
• It is used in tea, coffee in place of sugar and also in baking, cakes,
biscuits etc.
As medicine
• As laxative, blood purifier, cough, fever, ulcers, sore eyes, burns,
malnutrition, allergies and diabetes.
Religious ceremony
• In Pooja by Hindu
• Christian use it to make cakes in special occasions like
Christmas.
• Muslim recommended the honey in Quran. Quran has special
chapter on Honey and its uses.
Other uses
• For making skin and beauty lotions, stimulates yields in cows
milk, for plant growth and root culturing in lab condition.
12. • Bee wax is an important bi product of beekeeping industries.
• It is true wax secreted by 4 pairs of wax glands present on ventral sides of
abdomen of worker bees.
• It can be whitish, yellowish and greyish brown in colour.
Bee Wax
It is mainly formed of:
• Hydrocarbon-16%
• Monohydric alcohol- 31%
• Diols-3-5%
• Acids- 20-30% (hydroxy acid)
• Other substances-6-10%
Uses:
Cosmetic industries, making candles for
catholic churches, making comb foundations,
making face cream, ointments, lotions,
lipsticks, boot polish, furniture polish, for
electrical insulating apparatus, accessary of
dentist, pharmaceutical preparation, modelling
and plastic works, for making water proof
compounds, inks, paints etc.
13. Bee venom
• Bee venom is an ingredient derived from bees. It is used as a natural treatment for a
variety of ailments. Bee venom is a colorless, acidic liquid. Bees excrete it through their
stingers into a target when they feel threatened.
• The venom is mainly produced in the abdomen by Dufour (alkaline) gland of the
worker bees and originates from a mixture of acidic and basic secretions.
• Bee venom is a complex mixture of compounds, which include proteins, peptides, amino
acids, phospholipids, sugars, biogenic amines, volatile compounds, pheromones, and a
high quantity of water (>80%).
• Melittin — a compound that consists of 26 amino acids — comprises about 50% of the
dry weight of the venom and has been shown to have antiviral, antibacterial, and
anticancer effects in some studies.
• It offers a wide range of medicinal properties, ranging from reducing inflammation to
treating chronic illnesses.
14. Propolis
• Propolis is a resin-like material made by bees from the buds of poplar and
cone-bearing trees.
• Bees use it to build hives, and it may contain beehive byproducts.
• Propolis seems to help fight against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• It might also have anti-inflammatory effects and help skin heal.
• People commonly use propolis for diabetes, cold sores, and swelling and
sores inside the mouth. It's also used for burns, canker sores, genital herpes,
and many other conditions.
15. • Royal jelly, a milky secretion secreted by the hypopharyngeal glands of
worker honey bees, stimulates the growth and development of queen honey
bees.
• It typically contains about 60% to 70% water, 12% to 15% proteins, 10% to
16% sugar, 3% to 6% fats, and 2% to 3% vitamins, salts, and amino acids. Its
composition varies depending on geography and climate.
• This product gets its name from the fact that bees use it to nurture queen bees.
• Some people use royal jelly as medicine.
• Royal jelly is used for symptoms of menopause. It is also used
for diabetes, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), obesity, and many other
conditions.
Royal jelly
16. Bee pollen
• Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, wax and
bee secretions.
• Foraging honey bees collect pollen from plants and transport it to the
beehive, where it’s stored and used as food for the colony.
• Natural health practitioners promote it as a superfood due to its nutrient-
rich profile that includes tocopherol, niacin, thiamine, biotin, folic acid,
polyphenols, carotenoid pigments, phytosterols, enzymes, and co-enzymes.
• Bee pollen might help stimulate the immune system.
• People take bee pollen for athletic performance, hay fever,
eczema, constipation, obesity, and many other conditions.
Bee pollen granules consist of approximately
Carbs: 40%
Protein: 35%
Water: 4–10%
Fats: 5%
Other substances: 5–15%
