Debbee asked:

How can the spores be revived by honey bees?



One of the first jobs of the newly emerged worker is to clean up the cells around her for mummy to lay in again.  She will attempt to clean those with AFB scales but with little success, however the scales hold millions of spores and the young worker will get lots around her mouth parts.


Her next job is feeding the larvae, using the same, now contaminated, mouth parts, so the larvae get a good dose of spores.  The spores are revived in the gut of the larvae.  Here I'm guessing, but think that the gastric juices of the larvae strip the protective coat from the spore which enables it to wake up and start work.


Chris

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