Hi beehinde, exactly that, nothing to worry about. Stewart

Hi James, Thanks for commenting. If you watch my video about disease in the beginner beekeeping playlist I have some photographs in that presentation. Here in the UK AFB and EFB are what is known as Statutory Notifiable Diseases which means we have to notify the Nation Bee Unit and have an authorised bee inspector come out and take appropriate action. In the case of AFB it is a mandatory destruction. I am hoping to be able to visit with a bee inspector and shoot a video showing AFB and EFB in the future. The video with the pictures is here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bLqDp6qmmLrPhqc.html I hope that gives you an idea of what it looks like. Stewart

That is a good idea, especially as you build your inspection skills, and if the hive is quite populous!

Hi Mike & Andy, As @beehinde has said, it was just a "play cup" also known as a rudimentary queen cup. Nothing in it and the bees tend to make these at random places throughout the brood box. Stewart

Thanks, I am keeping a close eye on this hive as I will be using your 2 nuke method when queen cells begin to be produced and i don't want to get caught out. Incidentally the poly hive report you did , talking to a local beekeeper "Leics" who uses them he has already had to split all his five hives.He puts it down to the bees being kept just a little warmer through the winter.

Hi Gem, Thanks for commenting. Great question. With only one cell apparently affected I won't take any action other than keep a watchful eye on the colony and see how it develops. Most colonies can cope quite easily with a small amount of chalk brood. If it starts to increase I would change out some frames and if it got really bad then replacing the queen is the next course of action. Stewart

Thanks Stewart that's fab.

Hi Ma L, Great to hear from you again. Most of the other colonies were out foraging but these bees were a little quieter and so that made me start thinking why. They are perfectly healthy so I am making a guess that it is probably the cold as it was a little cooler on this day. Stewart

Hi Prem, I would leave them for 7 days without inspecting and then check again. If you still have a problem, remove the queen and replace her. Stewart

Thankyou, very much ,I will do so

Hi Munibungbee King, Chalk brood is caused by a fungal disease called Ascosphaera apis whereas chilled brood is usually caused by insufficient bees within the brood box and unable to maintain a warm enough environment for the brood to survive. Stewart