Diagnostic Survey of Honeybee Diseases, Pests and Predators in Bale Zone Southeast Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted on parasitic honeybee diseases, pests and predators in Bale. For the study questionnaires and diagnostic survey were employed.  A sample of adult worker bees and brood for major honeybee diseases were taken and analyzed in veterinary laboratory of respective districts of the study. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and chi-square. From the present study, the major challenge declared by beekeepers includes pests and predators, lack of bee forage, absconding and mass death of bee colonies. Regarding to honeybee pests and predators, the most important identified were honey badger, spiders ant, wax moth, bee-eater birds, small hive beetles and monkeys. The study indicated the overall mean prevalence of Nosema apis, Amoeba mellifera, Varro mites,  bee lice, wax moth, small hives beetles  were 79.17 %, 79.16%, 72.22%, 18.06%, 40.27% and 54.2 % respectively. However, the current diagnosis was not detected AFB, EFB, and trachea mites during laboratory sample analysis. Agro ecology and hive types were identified as risk factors for prevalence of honeybee diseases and pests.  Further study on prevalence of seasonal honeybee diseases and outbreak of honeybee diseases and pests is could be very important.

Keywords: Honeybee, Nosema apis, Malpighamoeba mellificae, diagnostic, disease, pests

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-6-01

Publication date: April 30^th 2023