Stan raises some interesting observations on the pattern of EFB in Prince
Edward Island.

EFB is said to be caused by stress, but I think it would be more accurate to
say it is wholly a bacterial disease which comes to the notice of beekeepers
when the colony is stressed.  The beekeeper notices the distorted and dying
larvae and worries.  It is not these he needs to worry about - they can't
pass on the disease.  It is during periods of less stress and greater
prosperity that the larvae get fed well enough to pupate and emerge and at
the same time multiply and spread the bacteria.

Stan mentioned that some bees from the same source as others did not appear
to have problems.  Did they then bring the EFB with them or were they placed
on combs that had EFB from an earlier infection?  Had the brood combs on
which they were placed been routinely fumigated?

The coincidence of Chalk Brood and visible EFB is interesting.  I once heard
it postulated that Ascosphera apis, the Chalk Brood fungus, is only able to
penetrate the gut lining of the larva if it is not up to scratch because of
poor nutrition, especially of protein.  Visible EFB is the sight of starving
larvae as the bacteria are eating all their food.

What's the protein like in PEI Stan?  Are those going down with CB and EFB
foraging on different crops to those apparently healthy?

Chris