CCD
Fall Dwindling Disease, Disappearing Disease, Fall Colony Collapse

Causative Agent: Unknown

Range: North America, possibly Europe

Life cycle/ Symptoms:

• Unknown, hives that are weak in the Fall seam to be at higher risk
• Apparently normal hives will disappear with in 1-2 weeks and few dead will be found in or around the hive. Occasionally the queen and a small number of workers will be found alive but encapsulated in the hive.

Management:

• If you suspect one or more of your hives are experiencing CCD it is recommended that you :

  •  Do not combine a weak colony with a strong one

  •  If a colony fails and you suspect CCD place the hive and frames in a place where other colonies cannot raid it

  •  Use Fumagillan in your sugar water if feeding

  •  If you suspect CCD in a failing colony use Terramycin to treat for European Foulbrood

  •  If mites become a problem use soft chemicals, such as Apiguard, Apilife VAR, or MiteAway II to suppress populations.  

Misconceptions:

Other Useful Sites: http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/ColonyCollapseDisorder.html

http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=15325

References used:

Root, A. I. (1990) The ABC & XYZ of bee culture 40 th ed. A.I Root Co. Medina, OH.

Morse, R.A. & R. Nowogrodzki (eds). 1990. Honey bee pests, predators and diseases . Cornell University Press Ithaca, NY .

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