BC Blueberries, Project Apis m., Boehringer Ingelheim, Mitacs, Costco Wholesale, Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund, Agriculture Funding Consortium, Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development CommissionEuropean Foulbrood (EFB) is a bacterial disease of young honey bee larvae, caused
by Melissococcus plutonius infection of the larval midgut. It occurs in times of
nutritional stress when insufficient food is supplied to the larvae by the nursing bee
population. EFB increases larval mortality, thereby limiting the colony’s growth,
which can have consequences on the hive’s pollination services, honey production,
and ability to reproduce.
Recently, increased incidence of EFB has been observed across North America;
however, the underlaying factors predisposing colonies to EFB remain largely
unknown
