What is a common indicator of poor bee health known as Bee PMS?

The term "Bee PMS" is often used to highlight specific symptoms that indicate compromised bee health, particularly relating to the presence of pests and diseases. A key indicator of poor bee health is the combination of snot brood, which is a term associated with a specific brood disease (Nosema), and high mite numbers, particularly Varroa destructor.

The presence of snot brood suggests that the bees are affected by a pathogen that severely impacts brood development, leading to abnormal larvae appearance and potentially high mortality rates. Alongside high mite numbers, this combination puts immense stress on the colony, making it a critical factor in assessing bee health. Understanding these indicators helps beekeepers take timely action to address these issues, such as implementing pest control measures and improving overall hive management to enhance bee health.

Other options reflect aspects of bee behavior or productivity but do not serve as direct indicators of poor health in the context of the 'Bee PMS' acronym. For instance, increased honey production can sometimes result from strong colonies, while low pollen storage might indicate foraging issues rather than poor health outright. Frequent swarming can occur due to various reasons and doesn't specifically denote health problems but rather reproductive behavior in successful colonies.