Survey and etiology of bacterial brood disease infecting Indian honey bees (Apis cerana indica F.) in Southern Kerala

Abstract

Survey conducted in the Indian honey bees apiaries of Southern Kerala revealed that Kollam district had the maximum disease incidence of 44.36% followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 4.45%. The symptoms observed were spotted brood appearance, perforated cell capping, change in colour of the larvae, the dead larvae decay in the cells and later form dark brown scale. The adult bees lose their gentle temperament and become aggressive. The colony strength decreases finally resulting in absconding. Two bacterial isolates were proven pathogenic to Apis cerana indica colonies and were identified as Bacillus pumilus and Achromobacter sp.

Keywords:

• apiary
• Indian honey bees
• brood disease
• Apis cerana indica
• Kerala

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.