Possable nosema

[Steve C]

Hello,

Been reading ole back issue's of BC....

In one of them they were taken a bee, pulling off the head, then pulling out all of the tract to see if you can see sign's of nosema....

The one hive I did..... It was clear all the way to the honey sac..... No problems.... Right....????

Now.... I just did another hive.... This hive is not a productive(honey storage) as the other...
The track was "PUSSey yellow yellow/brown'ish"...
not black like the pic's in the article... but maybe getting there...
Do you think this is a mild case of it starting.... that could explain the "not as productive"
When I say productave I mean no honey storage, no wax production..... what wax they are using has been stealing it from foundaton/ole black wax off of the comb....
no white wax at all.....

Now the other hive with the clear tract is still drawing wax into a med super that I have on....
pure "white white" wax....
so that is what I am compairing it to.... when I say not as productive....
I just re-queened this hive also...for next year spring buildup with a Feral type of worker....insted of a Itl. type....

Would this require a dose of Fumagilin-B now...or is it to late.... as of today... they are still taken 2:1......


Thanks

[ October 14, 2006, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Steve C ]

[George Fergusson]

>In one of them they were taken a bee, pulling off the head, then pulling out all of the tract to see if you can see sign's of nosema....

Sounds more like checking for tracheal mites. Is that what you're thinking of? Tracheal mites certainly can affect the productivity of a hive.

[Steve C]

George,

I found the issue... It was titled:

Nosema - Silent Killer? Stress Disease? No problem? Probably all of the above, somethimes.

Bee Culture, Nov 1999, Page 34

[George Fergusson]

OK, I'll sit down now.

[Steve C]

Oh.... No... No.... I'm sorry
My fault for not explaining better....

I should have said:
Pulling off the head, then pulling out all of the tract "by the stinger" to see if you can see sign's of nosema....

But you have a good point... that could be it also....
Hmmmm..... Mybe I need to get a binocolar microscope.....
Looks like santa might have a list going.... he he he.... ;)

[Michael Bush]

Nosema gut is white and opaque. Healthy gut looks yellow and "pussy" or clear depending on how much poleen they are eating.

http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/pest&disease/slide39.htm

[Dick Allen]

Also in a healthy bee the circular constrictions that encircle the midgut can be clearly seen. With a Nosema infected bee the midgut is often swollen and the constrictions are not as clearly seen.