Diagnosis of Honey Bee Diseases

by Hachiro Shimanuki and David A. Knox

Apiary inspectors and beekeepers must be able to recognize bee diseases and parasites and to differentiate the serious diseases from the less important ones. This handbook describes laboratory techniques (particularly those of the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory) used to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities of the honey bee and to identify parasites and pests. Includes directions for sending diseased brood and adult honey bees for diagnosis of bee disease. The directions on p. 50 for submitting Africanized honey bees for identification are no longer correct; for current information, click here.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Agriculture Handbook 690. B&W, 61 pp.

April 1991; revised July 2000

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