 Photo by Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), Crown Copyright |
- Fatal brood disease caused by a bacterium that is ingested by young bee larvae
- Spores germinate in the bee’s gut and the developing bee usually dies at the pre-pupal or pupal stage
- Symptoms include irregular brood patterns, sunken and discoloured cell cappings with perforations
- Decaying infected larvae may be roped to a distance of 2-3 cm
- The bacterium is very infectious and remains dormant for over 50 years
- Present throughout Australia, but not confirmed in NT or Kangaroo Island
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Scientific name: Paenibacillus larvae
EPPRD Category:
Life Form: Bacteria
Pest Documents
FS: fact sheet
CP: contingency plan
DP: diagnostic protocol