Ascospherosis is a disease of bees, which also has another name - lime brood. The peculiarity of the pathology is that adult insects carry the pathogen, while they themselves remain healthy. Additionally, gradual seeding of apiary by fungus is noted, which can lead to its death.
What is bee ascospherosis?
The term ascospherosis means a contagious disease of bees, the causative agent of which is a fungus from the genus marsupials. The pathogenic microorganism is quite viable and resistant to provoking environmental factors.
The growth of the fungus causes the larvae to swell and gradually leads to their death. The defeat extends to the honeycomb and bee houses of the hive. In the acute course of the disease, the third part of the brood dies, the volume of productivity is lost. The causative agent is found in the intestines of insects, which causes bacteria to enter the honey.
Ascospherosis spreads throughout the apiary. An ill apiary is considered unsuitable for use at the conclusion of the veterinarian.
The main causes of the disease
Most often, ascospherosis is observed in the springtime when the first offspring appears in insects. Long and cold winters contribute to the weakening of immunity in bees, which is a favorable soil for the development of the disease.
The main triggering factors affecting the occurrence of ascospherosis:
- the transfer of the fungus to the apiary with infected bees, drones or parasites;
- the pathogen through honey, perga, nectar, mash;
- the presence of high humidity and lack of heat;
- improper handling of inventory (frames, hives);
- poor nutrition of insects;
- fungal spread between healthy bees;
- the use of bees for pollination of the required crops in the greenhouse, since there is a high temperature and humidity, provoking the development of ascospherosis;
- excessive use of antibiotics that disrupt the natural pathogenic microflora of insects.
Before proceeding to the creation of an apiary, it is necessary to thoroughly process all the equipment and create the most favorable conditions for the reproduction of insects and the further production of honey.
Stages of the disease
The nature of the course of ascospherosis is classified by the following stages, which determine the number of dead insects:
- The latent course of the disease implies the death of a small number of individuals, which may go unnoticed.
- The easy stage is characterized by a small number of dead individuals (10-15 insects).
- In severe cases, the death of a large number of insects (more than 100 individuals) is noted.
With a mild course of ascospherosis, further infection can be prevented independently, and a severe form requires the necessary medical measures under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Typical symptoms of ascospherosis
With the active progression of the disease, the death of most of the insects during the stage of the printed brood and subsequent molting of the formed larvae is noted. The causative agent begins to actively multiply in the intestine of the insect, which leads to the emergence of germination of the fungus in the combs.
Infected larvae begin to swell and expand cells gradually. With the course of the disease, they become yellow and noticeably shine. The body of insects acquires a doughy consistency, and over time, the damaged area completely dries out.
If you shake the damaged honeycomb, then the dried larvae make a specific grunting sound, and when they are cut, they fall out of the cells. In this case, damaged areas are quite easily removed. This raw material is subject to mandatory destruction, as it has contagious fungal spores.
At the initial stage, a drone brood appears, since more favorable and natural conditions for reproduction are created on the edge of the frame.
The presence of a disease is indicated by the detection of such visual symptoms:
- a significant increase in the size of larvae;
- change of brood caps having a concave shape with perforated holes;
- the appearance of a characteristic coating on the surface of the honeycomb;
- the formation of pieces of chalk inside the honeycomb.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the disease is based on the study of clinical symptoms and the implementation of methods such as microscopy and mycology. To establish the exact type of pathogen, the resulting material is examined in a veterinary clinic.
As the test material, honeycombs with a diameter of 10-12 cm or obtained infected larvae are used.
When confirming suspicious symptoms, the veterinarian prescribes an appropriate treatment regimen and the necessary preventive measures.
Bees ascospherosis treatment
Timely treatment and fight against fungus are to perform the following actions:
- removal of frames with affected larvae;
- overheating of honeycombs with dead and affected brood;
- updating the bee's nest (using a frame with sushi, artificial wax);
- replacement of the bee (such a cardinal technique is used with a large area of damage of more than 50% of the apiary).
Before treatment, infected bee colonies are relocated to sanitized houses to receive honey and kill the fungus. In this case, it is best to use proven means.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment of ascospherosis involves the use of polyene antibiotics, imidol-containing compounds from the azole group, substances containing plant components.
The most effective and commonly used drugs:
- Therapeutic feeding with a sweet solution containing Nystatin. The dosage per 1 liter of liquid is 0.5 g of the substance. The tool is used three times, and then take a break for 5 days. Serving for one frame - 120-150 ml.
- Spraying with a 20% solution of Nystatin in the summer. The procedure is carried out 3 times, and then take the same break. The dosage at one spray is 20 ml.
- The use of special medicinal plates with the contents of Ascopol in the spring and summer. The plates are attached in the nest and left until they are completely spread by insects.
- The use of therapeutic nutrition Kandy. In the prepared sweet mixture (1 kg) add 10 ml of the substance. A serving for one bee family is 500 grams. The procedure depends on the severity of the disease (once or twice). For proper effect, pollen is also added.
- Poly-hundred. The composition of this therapeutic agent is based on the following components: Nystatin, flower pollen, the presence of PAN (a combination of essential trace elements, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins and other biochemical substances). 100 grams of the drug is diluted with cool, boiled water and mixed with a sweet mass, and then fertilized for 10-12 streets.
The use of drugs can increase the productivity of the bee family and provides resistance to pathogenic microorganisms.
When using medications to eliminate the fungus, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosages of drugs prescribed by the veterinarian, since their excessive amounts can have the opposite effect.
It should also be remembered that the elimination of the fungus with antibiotic preparations has a large number of side effects, which can negatively affect the further life of bee colonies.
If necessary, repeated procedures are carried out after a break lasting 10-14 days. The interval must be maintained in order to exclude the negative effects of drugs on the health of insects.
Disinfection
Disinfection with the development of ascospherosis involves the use of various therapeutic solutions to disinfect bee nests. In this case, a special veterinary composition (GLAC) is used. The procedure takes at least 2.5 hours.
The infected cells are treated with a solution of iodine monochloride, hydrochloric acid, a composition containing methanoic acid, hydrogen peroxide. It is also effective to disinfect the hive with a flame for 20-30 seconds.
To conduct a thorough disinfection and completely fill the cells, use a disassembly or a hydraulic console. Mechanically cleaned wooden equipment involves the use of such therapeutic solutions:
- a combination of 10% hydrogen peroxide and 0.5% methanoic acid (the duration of double disinfection is 60 minutes with an interval of one hour);
- the use of iodine monochloride (disinfection duration - at least 5-7 hours);
- the combination of formaldehyde 15% and caustic soda 5% requires processing for 4-6 hours.
Processing of metal equipment must be carried out with the last solution from the above list within 6 hours. After the time has passed, everything is thoroughly washed with cold water and left to dry in the open air.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies in the treatment of ascospherosis can be used at the initial stage of the disease and as a prophylaxis. The most popular recipes:
- Shredded yarrow leaves are used to powder infected bee streets.
- The upper part of the horsetail is dried, and then filled with water, boiled for 10 minutes and infused for about 2 hours. The finished product is filtered and mixed in equal proportions with sugar. The dosage for one bee family is 1 liter, and the duration of treatment is 5 days.
- The crushed heads of garlic in combination with the grated celandine are wrapped in gauze and laid on the top surface of the frames. Replace every 4 days.
- Dilute 10 ml of iodine in one liter of sugar syrup. The ready-made solution is given to a sick family or sprayed infected equipment.
When using folk remedies, it is best to consult a qualified veterinarian who will advise on effective methods to preserve the continued existence of the apiary.
Experienced beekeeper Konstantin Yakimov talks about effective ways to combat bee ascospherosis:
Prevention
Preventive measures for ascospherosis are the creation by beekeepers of favorable conditions (the exclusion of high humidity and low temperature) for safe and successful reproduction of insects with the subsequent production of high-quality honey.
When creating an apiary, it is important to choose a suitable place with good ventilation and the necessary access to sunlight. To exclude infection, the hives must be well insulated and prevent increased humidity inside the bee houses.
Prevention of possible relapse of the disease depends on the following:
- timely preventive measures (burning crumbled infected honeycombs, good disinfection);
- the use of medicinal plants that have a bactericidal effect on the fungus.
You can not feed healthy insects with nectar, which was collected by infected bees. If you violate this rule, there is a high risk of developing repeated relapse and further successful growth of the fungus.
Professional beekeepers necessarily carry out preventive measures to prevent possible infection of insects with a fungus and try to create favorable conditions for their successful living and reproduction.
Ascospherosis is a rather serious disease that can contribute to the complete extinction of bee colonies and destroy the normal life of the apiary. Complete elimination of the problem is possible only through the use of integrated measures.