Stonebrood

Causal agent		Aspergillus fumigatus – a fungus. Other Aspergillus spp may be identified.
Age group
Egg	Larvae		Pupae	Adult - worker	Drone	Queen
No	Yes
Clinical signs
Outside		No signs
Odour		No odour
Larvae appearance		Larvae develop a collar like ring near their head
		The larvae die and become black and extremely hard
		Eventually the fungus erupts and forms a false skin which is white
Scales (larvae)		Mummified remains
Infectivity
		Larvae ingest spores from the honey The problem occurs predominately in immunocompromised bees
Transmission
		Spores are in the environment
Post-mortem Lesions
		Appearance of larvae
Diagnosis
		Appearance of larvae
		Culture
		Wet mount of larvae with ring around neck shows mucelia penetrating throughout the insect.
Treatment
		Improve hive ventilation, hygiene and general hive health
Common differentials
Zoonosis		Aspergillus can infect man causing severe respiratory problems