Project Overview
Control of chalkbrood in honeybees with essential oils
Commodities
- Animals: bees
Practices
- Animal Production: herbal medicines, homeopathy, preventive practices
- Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research
- Pest Management: field monitoring/scouting, integrated pest management
- Production Systems: holistic management
Proposal summary:
Chalkbrood disease is a fungal infection of the honeybee larvae that is increasing in frequency in the U.S., and newly established colonies are more susceptible because they lack a sufficient number of workers to remove infected larvae. This project will investigate controlling the disease by feeding essential oils that are mixed with sugar syrup. Outreach will be through presentations at beekeeper meetings, articles, and a web site.