Diseases and Pests of the Honey Bee

This course covers the main diseases and pests that affect honey bees, including Varroa destructor, American foulbrood, and European foulbrood. This course will cover the basic life cycle of each pathogen, the main impacts on honey bees, and basic management and treatment options.  

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

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    Identify the main diseases that affect honey bee brood. 

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    Identify the main diseases that affect adult honey bees. 

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    Describe the life cycle of the main pathogens and pests that affect honey bees.  

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    Name reportable diseases. 

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    Recognize the main pests and predators that affect honey bees.

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    List management practices to prevent and/or treat diseases.

  • ✺

    Describe environmental and management factors contributing to pest and disease outbreaks.

  • ✺

    Access sources of information and support to stay current on disease and pest issues.

What’s inside

Module 1

Basic concepts

Module 2

The multiple stressors that honey bees are exposed to

Module 3

Brood diseases

Module 4

Adult diseases  

Module 5

Pests and predators  

Glossary

Definitions of words used in the science and practice of beekeeping

Assessment 

Knowledge will be assessed through a variety of short quizzes. Upon successful completion of the course, a badge certifying completion will be awarded.  

Free Sample Course 

Not sure if this course is for you? Try out the platform for free! We've created a Free Sampler course so you can see how the content is delivered and have confidence this learning platform will work for you.

Enrolment

Tuition is a one-time fee of $150, granting you access to all course materials, interactive class discussion forums, and support from the TTP Lead, Nuria Morfin, along with technical assistance from our IT department.

Enrolment is open year-round to all individuals interested in exploring the world of beekeeping, with no prerequisites necessary. Our self-paced course offers flexibility, allowing you to tailor your learning experience to your schedule. Based on our estimations, dedicating 2-3 hours per week typically leads to completion within one month. However, students have four months from the date of enrolment to complete the curriculum, a time frame designed to accommodate your pace and commitments.

By investing in this course, you're not just enhancing your skills; you're contributing directly to the advancement of beekeeping in BC. All proceeds generated from our courses are reinvested into the BC Honey Producers’ Association and Technology Transfer Program, supporting further research initiatives aimed at supporting beekeepers across BC.

How to Register

To register, follow the enrolment link below. It will take you to our online learning platform, Moodle. Here you will create an account. An email asking you to confirm your information will be sent to the address you provided. Look for a message from Ken Monroe (via tech@ttp-bchpa.ca). If the message does not arrive to your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. Click the link to validate your account.

From your account you can select the course you wish to enrol in. You will be directed to a payment link showing ‘Pay via Paypal’ where you can pay using either Paypal or a credit card if you do not have a Paypal account. After payment has been approved your course will show up in 'My Courses’ on your dashboard.

Contact us at info@ttp-bchpa.ca if you have questions.

Enrol Now

Enrol Now

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • The tuition is $150. The money goes directly to the BC Honey Producers’ Association and Technology Transfer Program for investment in further courses and programs to support honey producers in BC.

  • The course is self-paced. Based on our estimations, dedicating 2-3 hours per week typically leads to completion within one month. However, students have four months from the date of enrolment to complete the curriculum

  • Enrolment is open year-round to all individuals, so you can enrol anytime! The course is self-paced with a time frame of four months to complete the curriculum once you enrol.

  • We have created a Free Sampler course that allows you to see how the content is delivered so you can know if this learning is right for you. Try it now

  • No prerequisites or prior education is required. This course is designed for beginner and intermediate beekeepers seeking to have a better understanding of honey bee pathology. If you have no prior experience with honey bees, we do recommend taking the ‘Introduction to honey bee biology and apiculture’ before taking this course.

  • Yes, our TTP Lead, Nuria will be available to answer questions about course content. And if you are having technical problems you can email Ken at learningsupport@ttp-bchpa.ca. There are also open class forums to discuss with other students

  • No. This course is for you to learn about honey bees and apiculture for your own purpose. Each module does have a quiz, but it has unlimited attempts. There are also self-knowledge checks throughout the course on what we consider to be important knowledge. Again, these allow unlimited attempts. So in the end, there are no grades, and once you complete the course and the end of course survey, you will receive an electronic badge indicating completion.