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Morphic
06-02-2005, 10:04 PM
Ok, from my beekeeping for dummies, it says if there is brown smears on front of hive, it could be a sign of nosema. It isnt ALOT just a lil bit around where they go in. Any other way to tell, and if it is nosema, how do i treat it? How long does it take ot treat?


Sean

Dave W
06-03-2005, 03:28 PM
Greetings Morphic,

1) Nosema infected colonies build-up slowly or not at all.
2) Infections peak in Apr or May, smaller but detectable peak occurs in fall.
3) Best time for finding (microscopic) spores is beginning of flying season after winter confinement.
4) Bees appear weak and may shiver and crawl aimlessly on front of hive.
5) "Spotting" of hive. Streaks of mustard-brown feces in and on hive.

Michael Bush
06-03-2005, 08:49 PM
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/pest&disease/slide36.htm

Morphic
06-04-2005, 01:32 AM
How will this effect my hive??? If it is nosema. The streaking isnt as bad as it is in that picture.

Michael Bush
06-05-2005, 03:52 PM
The official view of Nosema and it's effects is in the link I posted above. I have never treated for it and have not had a problem with it that I know of. I've never seen dysentary that lasted very long.

Jim Fischer
06-05-2005, 10:40 PM
> I have never treated for it

But have you sampled bees and checked with
a microscope for the protozoa?

> and have not had a problem with it that I know of.

Nosema is perhaps the most overlooked problem in
beekeeping. In most cases, the "symptoms" are
dismissed as a weaker hive due to a less prolific
queen, or a smaller harvest due to any number of
factors. The basic symptom is that the hive is
not a powerhouse. The basic impact is weaker
colonies, and smaller crops.

If you don't look for a disease like nosema, you
certainly will find it only rarely. Despite this,
it is a very common problem.

> I've never seen dysentary that lasted very long.

Dysentery is not nosema.

Michael Bush
06-06-2005, 11:59 AM
>> I have never treated for it

>But have you sampled bees and checked with
a microscope for the protozoa?

I have field stripped bees. I have not had a microscope handy until now and I haven't tried it yet.

>> I've never seen dysentary that lasted very long.

>Dysentery is not nosema.

Yes. Dysentary. Not nosema.