Chalk Brood
Updated: Feb 12, 2021
Symptoms/Identification
White, Gray, and Black mummies in brood cells, at the entrances, and on bottom boards
Often found after cool, damp weather
How it Spreads
Infected equipment
Infected pollen
Moving infected combs to uninfected hives
Drifting/Robbing
Treatment
Feeding Sugar Syrup and Pollen
Requeening
Increasing ventilation (screened bottom boards)
Moving colonies to sunny dry locations
Replacing old and diseased comb
Prevention
To help prevent Chalk brood, always sterilize your equipment after working someone else bees. Requeen every 1-2 years. Maintaining strong colonies and treating for pests, namely Varroa, this will greatly reduce the stress on a colony and help it fight off diseases. Also make sure you hive is in a sunny dry location. Chalkbrood thrives best in damp shaded areas.