In a message dated 23/03/2009 21:08:15 GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: I was told by an experienced beekeeper that bees are stressed in blueberries and that EFB is a "stress" disease. EFB is a bacterial disease that multiplies unseen during the good times. When the colony is stressed, especially by there being a shortage of nurse bees or the wherewithal for them to create brood food, the disease becomes visible but multiplication should be reduced as the bees tend to die as larvae and can be removed intact taking their load of bacteria with them. In the UK it is a 'notifiable' disease that used to be treated by burning in the same way as AFB. Since that policy has been relaxed to allow the Ministry to treat less severe cases by antibiotics or, more recently, by shook swarms, the incidence has increased markedly. Reportedly, shook swarming is more effective than antibiotics. Chris *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html