When diagnosing bee lice, what evidence is indicative of their presence?

Loss of brood is a significant indicator when diagnosing bee lice presence, particularly because bee lice can adversely affect the health of the colony. These parasites are known to feed on the bee's body and potentially weaken individual bees, which can lead to the decline in the overall health and productivity of the hive.

When bee lice infest a colony, the queen may become less effective at laying eggs, resulting in fewer new bees (brood) being produced. As the lice population increases, it can cause mortality among the larvae or pupae, leading to noticeable losses in brood. This reduction in the number of developing bees contributes to the colony's declining population and affects its long-term viability.

In contrast, excessive honey consumption, low population density, or increased foraging activity do not specifically correlate with the presence of bee lice. High honey consumption might be associated with other factors such as environmental conditions or food availability, while low population density could simply indicate other issues unrelated to lice. Increased foraging activity is typically an indicator of a robust colony, not one that is struggling due to lice infestation. Overall, the significant connection between loss of brood and bee lice highlights why this factor is critical in diagnosing their presence.