 Photo by Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), Crown Copyright |
- A brood disease caused by a bacterium that is ingested by honey bee larvae causing death by starvation
- Symptoms include spotted brood pattern intermingled with healthy brood, sunken and greasy cappings and a foul smell
- Infected larvae die before their cells are capped in a twisted position and become yellow-brown
- Incidence is usually greater when the colony is under stress due to cool weather or poor nutrition
- Present throughout Australia (except WA, NT and Kangaroo Island)
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Scientific name: Melissococcus plutonius
EPPRD Category:
Life Form: Bacteria
Pest Documents
FS: fact sheet
CP: contingency plan
DP: diagnostic protocol