🐝 Part 3: Trouble in the Hive – Managing Pests, Diseases & Stress

🐝 Part 3: Trouble in the Hive – Managing Pests, Diseases & Stress

Theme: Managing pests and diseases
By Master Beekeeper Mark Vanderende | Edu-🐝 | The Foraging Bee

“A strong hive doesn’t just survive—it thrives when we know what to look for, when to act, and how to support it.”

Bees are incredibly resilient. But like all creatures, they face threats—some natural, some human-driven, and some amplified by a changing world. As beekeepers and pollinator stewards, it’s our job to recognize the signs of trouble and respond in ways that are both effective and ethical.

This part of our Edu-🐝 series dives into the gritty (and sometimes sticky) realities of pest and disease management, offering both practical tools and a mindset of care.

🐞 Know Your Enemies: Common Hive Threats

Understanding the culprits is the first step to keeping your bees healthy. Here are the most common—and most concerning—pests and diseases:

🔴 Varroa Destructor Mites

• The #1 threat to global honey bee health.

• These parasitic mites attach to adult bees and brood, feeding on fat bodies and transmitting viruses like Deformed Wing Virus (DWV).

• Unchecked, Varroa can wipe out a hive within a single season.

🦠 Foulbrood (American & European)

• American Foulbrood (AFB): A spore-forming, highly infectious bacterial disease affecting brood. It’s fatal and often requires burning infected hives.

• European Foulbrood (EFB): A bacterial disease that affects larvae, often in times of stress or poor nutrition.

🧫 Nosema (Nosema ceranae & apis)

• A fungal gut parasite that reduces bee lifespan, affects foraging efficiency, and weakens overwintering success.

• Often unseen but can cause slow colony declines.

🐛 Wax Moths

• Opportunistic pests that lay eggs in unguarded or weak hives.

• Larvae burrow through comb, destroying brood frames and leaving behind webbing and waste.

Each of these threats acts differently—but all have something in common: they flourish when colonies are already stressed.

🌿 Natural vs. Chemical: Finding Balance in Intervention

When it comes to treating pests and diseases, beekeepers walk a fine line. Our goal is to support bees—not replace their defenses.

🧪 Chemical Treatments (Use with Care)

• Oxalic Acid / Formic Acid: Organic acids effective against Varroa with proper timing and dosing.

• Thymol-based products: Naturally derived but still potent—must follow label instructions.

• Antibiotics (for foulbrood): Limited use, often only by prescription in North America.

💡 Overuse of treatments can lead to resistance, queen rejection, and residue buildup in wax and honey.

🌱 Natural & Holistic Approaches

• Drone brood trapping (for Varroa)

• Biotechnical methods like screen bottom boards, powdered sugar dusting, and brood breaks

• Essential oils (with caution)

• Regular hive inspections and hygiene

The key is to integrate a thoughtful mix of monitoring, prevention, and minimal, targeted treatment when needed. That’s the heart of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

🍯 Build Resilient Colonies: Prevention Is Powerful

A strong colony is its own best defense. Here’s how to stack the odds in your bees’ favor:

🧬 Genetics Matter

• Choose hygienic, mite-resistant stock such as VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) or locally adapted queens.

• Diverse genetics = better resilience.

🌿 Nutrition is Medicine

• Provide consistent access to diverse forage and clean water.

• Supplement with pollen patties or syrup during dearth or recovery periods.

🧹 Hive Hygiene & Best Practices

• Clean old comb regularly (every 3–5 years).

• Avoid used equipment unless sterilized.

• Maintain good ventilation and reduce moisture buildup.

A little prevention goes a long way—and can mean the difference between a thriving hive and a lost one.

🧰 When to Act: Monitoring Tools & Tips

You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Stay proactive with regular checks:

• Varroa Counts: Use alcohol wash, sugar roll, or sticky boards. Treat only when thresholds are crossed (e.g. >3% infestation).

• Brood Pattern Inspections: Spot signs of disease early—irregular, sunken, or perforated brood caps are red flags.

• Bee Behavior: Sluggish bees, crawling at hive entrances, or unusual aggression can signal trouble.

Use a hive journal or digital tools to track trends over time. Prevention isn’t passive—it’s powered by information.

🐝 Empowerment through Education

At The Foraging Bee, we teach beekeepers how to become observers, learners, and gentle defenders of their hives. Pest and disease management isn’t glamorous—but it’s absolutely essential.

It’s not just about reacting. It’s about understanding, anticipating, and partnering with the bees.

💛 Call to Action: Let’s Bee Better Together

Want to learn more hands-on? Join a hive inspection day, take part in a Varroa monitoring workshop, or dive deeper through our Edu-🐝 video series.

🌿 Connect with like-minded beekeepers and pollinator advocates
🔍 Explore real-world strategies for healthy hives
🌎 Sustain your apiary and the ecosystems around it

👉 Visit www.theforagingbee.com to join the movement.

Let’s 🐝 curious—and build stronger hives together.

🔜 Next Up: The Sweet Rewards – Celebrating the Gifts of Beekeeping

You’ve learned about bee biology, the rhythm of beekeeping, and how to tackle the tough stuff. Now it’s time for some sweetness.

In Part 4 of our Edu-🐝 series, we’ll explore the full-circle joy of beekeeping:

• Harvesting honey, wax, and propolis

• Creating salves, soaps, and sustainable products

• Building community and inspiring conservation

• The emotional rewards of being part of the hive

Join us as we celebrate the gifts bees bring—and how beekeeping contributes to a more sustainable world.

🐝 Stay tuned for Part 4: “Sweet Rewards – The Joys and Contributions of Beekeeping”