[Apple Farmer]

I found signs of nosema on the entrances and in the snow in front of one of my hives. What course of action should I take?:scratch: What do I do to clean up and get rid of the nasty little parasites that are in the hive?:s

 

[Oldbee]

Not all of the signs of cleansing flights in front of 2 - 5 + hives are going to look the same. Some hives may show more spotting in the snow [or near entrance] than others, or have more dead bees,..etc. ? It may look like nosema but I have read that a microscopic examination is the only true test. The hive may get through the winter OK.

I really don't think there is much you can do as far as feeding syrup with Fumidil at this time of year in your [our] area. For treating [acetic acid?] the equipment later if it is a bad case, I can't comment on that,..

Nosema. http://beespotter.mste.uiuc.edu/topics/ccd/nosema_streaking.gif

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189653&highlight=nosema

 

[Apple Farmer]

Thanks for the Links OLDBEE. I did a search and found some more of the same information. I did find two pieces of information on treating the box and frames with acetic acid. One said to used 80% acetic acid to fumigate and the other said 60%. Anyone have any first hand experiance using acetic acid?

 

[Roland]

Experience treating with Acetic Acid, Yes, but do not know the results yet.


Roland

 

[Beeslave]

10% bleach solution sprayed on comb and allowed to dry will drasticlly reduce if not eliminate nosema spores. Why do you think you have Nosema because the bees crapped on the hive entrance and all over the snow? They haven't been able to fly for a long time and were a little excited leaving the hive. What you are seeing is dysentary(probally). We had a late flow with frost aster and it is proven that unripened frost aster honey is not good winter feed for the bees and it causes dysentary(The Hive and The Honey Bee). At this time there is not much you can do to help the hive other than pray for warmer weather so the bees can fly and crap outside the hive more if they do have dysentary. Applying granulated sugar to the top of the hive(mountaincamp style) can add more solids to their diet and could help(educated guess).