Note: All Beekeepers have a responsibility to ensure that their bees are healthy and that they are not spreading infection through their beekeeping practices. Beekeepers should be familiar with the signs and causes of bee diseases and be prepared to take immediate action where disease is suspected. The EMBA, just as other Local Associations, has a distinct role in honeybee colony health managment and should be contacted and kept informed of all disease incidence.

This web page contains information on honeybee diseases, their management, control products, Health and Safety, and Legislation.

1. Abnormal Drone Laying Condition occurring in bee colonies...
2. Acarine Mite (Acarapis woodi) infestation of the trachea..
3. American Foul Brood (AFB) Bacterial (Paenibacillus) disease of sealed brood...
4. Amoeba Parasite (Malpighamoeba mellificae) causing cysts to form in the gut...
5. Bald Brood Damage caused by wax moth and incomplete cell capping...
6. Braula Louse like insect (Braula coeca) steals food from bees...
7. Chalk Brood Fungal (Ascosphaera apis) disease of bees, comb, hive parts etc...
8. Chilled Brood Condition caused by exposure to cold...
9. Dysentery Condition brought on by Nosema...
10. European Foul Brood (EFB) Bacterial (Melisococcus pluton) disease of open brood...
11. Nosema Gut infection of adult bees...
12. Chemical Poisoning poisoning of bees is usually caused by ..
13. Sacbrood Virus disease attacking young larvae...
14. Small Hive Beetle (SHB) The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), an exotic pest of European honey bees....
15. Stone Brood Fungal (Aspergillus spp) disease of bee larvae...
16. Tropilaelaps Asian bee mites Tropilaelaps spp,a potential new threat to European beekeeping...
17. Varroa Varroa mite, external parasite of honey bees...
18. Disease Document Set Zipfile containing all the above documents (1.61Mb)

1. Organic Acids - Central Science Laboratory FAQ Sheet
2. Varroa Control Products - DEFRA Excerpt

1. The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007 (49kb)
2. Executive Note to accompany above (26kb)
3. Managing Varroa (2005) (1.7MB)
4. Tropilaelaps: parasitic mites of honey bees (354kb)
5. The Small Hive Beetle (682kb)
6. The Small Hive Beetle Factsheet (126kb)
7. Foul Brood Disease of Honey Bees (1.57Mb)
8. Foul Brood Disease Statutory Procedures (388kb)
9. Small Hive Beetle (SHB) Presentation An online presentation by Dr. Otto Boecking...

1. Health and Safety Guidelines Hazards, Risks and Risk Management when working with honeybees.

• The Bees Act 1980, which empowers Ministers to make Orders to control diseases and pests affecting bees, and provides powers of entry for authorised persons. Such Orders are implemented separately by Government Departments in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  
  
• The Bee Diseases Control Order 2007, S.S.I.506. Places duties on beekeepers who suspect disease to notify authorities quickly and restricts movement of bees, hives equipment etc.
  
  
• The Importation of Bees Order 1980. Prohibits importation of bees but makes provision for import of queens and attendants from varroa free countries under licence.

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