Stonebrood

Causative Agent: Aspergillus flavus or Aspergillus fumigatus (fungus)

Range: North America

Life cycle/ Symptoms:

• Disease of the larvae and occasionally pupae, symptoms are similar to Chalkbrood.
• Fungus grows quickly and rapidly, turning the infected larva or pupa white eventually the cadaver turns brownish or yellow-green and becomes hard.
• Experts differ in opinions as to whether this disease affects adults or not. Some believe that the disease causes the gut of the adult to mummify and the abdomen to become rigid.

Management:

• Not considered a serious pest of honey bees at this time.

Misconceptions:

Other Useful Sites:

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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