Chalk Brood

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.