Veterinary honey bee field diagnostic kit

This page contains the items included in a field kit designed for veterinary practitioners to inspect honey bee colonies and perform basic field tests and sample collection. This kit was designed by a team of extension specialists and educators through a grant to train veterinary practitioners in honey bee medicine. This team hosted multiple hands-on clinics for veterinary practitioners in the summer of 2023 and handed out this kit.  

• If you would like further information on how to host a clinic for veterinarians, contact the program PI: Meghan Milbrath / 517-884-9518 / mpi@msu.edu
• If you would like to purchase kit contents in bulk, view the amazon cart that is filled with items used in the kit - https://a.co/3lwoxp9

Items included in the kit: 

Beekeeping equipment 

• Hive tool - Short flat pry bar, used to pry open hive boxes and remove frames
• Beekeeping veil - PPE to cover face while inspecting a hive. 

Diagnostic equipment

• Mite check kit  - Used to estimate the infestation of varroa mites on adult bees using an alcohol wash. 
  • Plastic jar with mesh lid (size 8 hardware cloth)
  • 1/2 cup flat-sided scoop
• Lateral flow devices for American foulbrood (AFB) and European foul brood (EFB) - Disease-specific field test to diagnose a sample of brood with AFB and EFB.
• Blacklight flashlight - Field test to examine frame for American foulbrood scales. 
• Holst milk test kit- Field test to diagnose a sample of brood with AFB.
  • Falcon tube 
  • Non-fat dry milk

Support diagnostic equipment

• Plastic container - Hold kit supplies, visualizing results of mite check test
• Ziplock bag - Hold kit contents when using container for mite checks
• Disposable tweezers - Open and collect brood cells to inspect potentially diseased brood.   
• Magnifying glass - Magnify view of potentially diseased brood or other items in a colony. Counting mites from mite check. 
• Flashlight  - Increase ability to see in cells in flat lighting. 

Printed resources

• Penn State’s A Field Guide to Honey Bees and Their Maladies - Provide information accessible in the field on honey bee diseases and pests. 
• PennState’s Quick Reference Guide - Provide quick information on parasites, pests, predators, and disease. 
• Sting guide - Provide information on honey bee stings, including what to expect when stung and how to manage stings. 
• Pre-printed address stickers - To be used when sending samples to USDA-ARS Beltsville lab for diagnosis.
• Honey Bee Health Coalition Varroa Management Guide - Guide on varroa mite management, including treatments and their applications. 

Items not included in the kit:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) 
  • Beekeeping jacket, or suit
  • Nitrile gloves
• Beekeeping equipment
  • Smoker
  • Smoker fuel
  • Lighter
• Diagnostic equipment
  • Water (for Holst milk test)
  • Isopropyl alcohol for mite check test