Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
Brood aspergillosis
Stonebrood
Uncommon fungal disease that can affect brood and, occasionally, adult bees, producing hard mummies. Some Aspergillus species may also pose a risk to immunocompromised people.
Agent
Aspergillus spp.
Legal status
No
Signs and symptoms
Adults
- Possible fungal growth on dead bees
Brood
- Hardened larvae
- Hard mummies with variable coloration
- Fungal growth
Colony
- Weakening in relevant cases
Diagnosis and confirmation
Field methods
- Observation of hard mummies
Laboratory methods
- Mycological identification
Control and prevention
Good practices
- Remove severely affected material
- Improve ventilation
- Use suitable protective equipment
- Disinfect according to technical guidance
Prevention
- Reduce humidity
- Store material correctly
- Keep colonies strong
Monitoring
Indicators
- Appearance of mummies
- Humidity
- Laboratory confirmation
Frequency
- When atypical mummies are present