Announcements

• Saturday Apiary Meeting: Open meeting at the apiary at 9:00 AM Saturday; gates open at 9:00 AM, donuts expected at 8:59 AM.
• New Apiary Equipment: A full tote of syrup (new, plumbed and ready to dispense) and a new picnic table (donated from an Open Space Authority preserve remodel) are now available at the apiary.
• Storage Container: We have a snazzy new storage container at the Apiary for all of our beekeeping and event materials. No more hauling gear to every Apiary event!

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Meeting Presentation

This meeting was a beekeeping club session featuring a presentation by Alexis from the University of Florida about chalkbrood disease. Alexis explained the biology of chalkbrood, caused by Ascosphaeria apis fungus, including how it affects bee larvae, the specific conditions required for infection, and current prevention methods. She discussed her research into potential treatments and biological controls, noting that while spores are widespread in environments, actual disease outbreaks are rare and typically occur under specific temperature and humidity conditions, particularly during temperature fluctuations in winter and spring. The presentation covered misconceptions about chalkbrood treatment, including the effectiveness of thymol and bananas, and emphasized that healthy bees are generally resistant to the disease. The conversation ended with reminders about an upcoming Saturday apiary meeting at 9 AM and an announcement about the Santa Cruz Fair beekeeping exhibit in September.

Next steps

Alexis

• Send an email to the UK collaborator to inquire about hive insulation and temperature drops in relation to chalkbrood.

Jamie

• Please sign-up to volunteer at the Santa Cruz Fair Bug Barn on the club website – click the button below!

Collaboration

• All attendees: Attend the apiary meeting on Saturday at 9:00 AM.
• All attendees: Volunteer for shifts at the Santa Cruz Fair Bug Barn (September 16th-20th) and look for sign-ups on the club website.

Summary

Apiary Meeting and Presentation

The group confirmed a meeting scheduled for Saturday at the apiary at 9 o’clock. Several participants discussed their attendance, with Roark confirming donuts would be provided and Bruce indicating a 50/50 chance of attending. Steve returned from a trip to Oxford/Harvard where he learned about relativity and general relativity, including navigation techniques and presented on the cosmology of bees.

Chalkbrood Research Presentation

The group discussed an upcoming Saturday meeting at the apiary at 9:00 AM to check on bees. Alexis joined remotely from Florida to present on chalkbrood research she is conducting at the University of Florida under Dr. Cameron Jack, though she works closely with Jamie Ellis who recently moved to UGA. Alexis began her presentation about the biology of chalkbrood, explaining that it’s a pathogen caused by fungi and typically appears in winter or early spring in cooler regions.

Fungi Classification and Diversity Overview

Alexis presented an overview of fungi, explaining their classification as eukaryotes with chitin cell walls and their status as heterotrophs. The presentation covered the diversity of fungi, including molds, mushrooms, lichens, rust, smuts, and yeast, with an estimated 3 million species identified globally. Alexis discussed the challenges in classifying fungi, noting that physical traits historically defined species but DNA analysis is now more commonly used due to fungi that appear different but are closely related genetically.

Chalkbrood Pathogen Biology Overview

Alexis provided a detailed explanation of chalkbrood, a fungal pathogen caused by Ascosphaeria apis, focusing on its biology and life cycle. She described how the pathogen reproduces through a unique “nested egg” reproductive structure that requires two different mating types to come together, resulting in the formation of spore-filled fruiting bodies. Alexis explained that while spores are the infectious agents, they must be fed to larvae rather than penetrating through the cuticle, and the infection only affects larvae while adult bees remain symptom-free but can transmit the pathogen. She noted that while spores are prevalent in the environment, chalkbrood infections are relatively uncommon in bee colonies.

Chalk Brood Fungal Infection Discussion

Alexis discussed chalk brood, a fungal infection affecting bee larvae, explaining how spores can remain dormant in apiaries and become active under certain conditions. She described the infection process, where spores germinate and release enzymes that break down larval structures, allowing fungal hyphae to grow and cause desiccation. Alexis emphasized that while infected larvae may not show visible reproductive fruiting bodies, they can still spread the infection, and explained that factors like spore dosage, stress levels in colonies, temperature fluctuations, and timing of spore ingestion all impact the likelihood and severity of chalk brood outbreaks.

Chalkbrood Prevention and Research

Alexis explained the biology of chalkbrood, a bee pathogen that requires precise timing and CO2 levels to cause illness in larvae. She outlined current prevention methods including proper ventilation, equipment cleaning, and avoiding transfer of infected combs between colonies. Alexis described her ongoing research focusing on biological compounds and microbial interactions as potential treatments, noting that while chemical treatments exist, they are reserved for severe outbreaks due to potential harm to bees.

Chalkbrood Prevention Research Discussion

Alexis discussed the role of humidity in chalkbrood development, explaining that while humidity and temperature fluctuations are necessary conditions for chalkbrood to occur, it’s not commonly seen in Florida despite the high humidity. Victoria asked about research on hive insulation as a prevention method, which Alexis confirmed had not been studied. Alexis agreed to follow up with a UK collaborator about potential research into how insulation might affect temperature fluctuations and chalkbrood risk.

Chalkbrood Environmental and Treatment Conditions

Alexis discussed the environmental conditions for chalkbrood, explaining that it thrives at temperatures around 30-32 degrees Celsius and prefers higher humidity, though specific temperature drops required for spore production haven’t been fully studied. She addressed common misconceptions, including the belief that white mummies won’t spread spores and the effectiveness of thymol treatment, noting that while some research suggests potential inhibitory effects with leafcutter bees, her laboratory studies with honeybee chalkbrood showed no impact from thymol. Regarding treatment options, Alexis recommended requeening with more hygienic bee lines as a potential approach, though no specific genetic lines have been proven to completely eliminate chalkbrood, and advised against reusing infected equipment while maintaining overall hive health.

Chalk Brood in Bees Discussion

Alexis discussed chalk brood in bees, explaining that spores can spread through interactions between hives and that fire can effectively kill spores on metal tools but is less effective on porous materials. She clarified that bees can be exposed to chalk brood spores through feeding but may not always show symptoms due to variations in immune response. The conversation ended with announcements about an upcoming apiary visit on Saturday at 9 AM and plans for the Santa Cruz Fair booth setup in September, where volunteers are needed for 3-hour shifts.