
Diagnostic Survey of Honey Bee Disease in East Wollega Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia
The study was conducted to assess the honey bee pests, predators, and diseases in the selected districts of East Wollega Zone. A cross-sectional study design was used for this study to determine honeybee disease and pests. A questionnaire survey and laboratory diagnostic methods were used for the study. The questionnaire was administered to 104 beekeepers (97.1% males). Totally 52 beekeeping sites and two honeybee colony samples from each beekeeper sites, totally (104 honeybee colonies), were collected from frame box hives for laboratory diagnosis. The major cause of honey bee colony and yield decrease ranked by respondents were 1st pets and predators, 2nd Honeybee diseases and 3rd in appropriate agrochemical application. Majority of honeybee colonies were infested by ant 538(21.3%), by beetles 378(14.9%) and by wax moth 315(12.5%), in all districts. Among all pest and predators listed by respondents honeybee colonies were absconded by ants 213(8.4%), wax moth 194(7.7%) and by beetles 193(7.6%). After having identified the major pests, beekeepers were requested to rank them in order of their importance and the result indicated that Ants (1st), beetles (2nd), Wax moth (3rd) and honey badgers (4th) were the most harmful pests in order of degree of their importance. 52 beekeeping sites and 104 honeybee colonies were examined for major honeybee parasites (Varroa mites, bee lice, and tracheal mites), adult honeybee diseases (Nosema and Amoeba) and brood diseases (Chalk brood, American and European Foul brood) with their prevalence in the study area. However, AFB, EFB, SBD, and tracheal mite was not confirmed during the study period.
Amsalu Arega Buli*