Dysentery, a condition rather than a disease, is caused by an excessive amount of water in a bee's body. Afflicted bees cannot hold waste products in their bodies. Unable to wait until cleansing flights, these bees void their feces on the combs, at the hive entrance, on the exterior of the hive, and on the snow near the hive in late winter. Two leading causes of dysentery are prolonged confinement during winter and early spring and consumption of food with high water content. Nosema disease and damp hives may also contribute to the problem.

To prevent dysentery, make sure hives are well ventilated and stocked with high-quality food. If fall feeding is necessary, do it early enough so that the bees can properly ripen their stores.