Stan Sandler asks:   Has there ever been any fumagillan resistance noticed?
Is there any alternative treatment if resistance does develop?
What biological control alternatives are available?
The following extracts from two well known books on bee diseases might prove
of interest.
"Nosema has been found all over the world.  In a sampling covering 43 States
in America nosema was found in 66% of all the apiaries."
"Nosema causes malnutrition, damages the glands which produce brood food and
shortens the bee's life."
"Fumagillin (Fumidil) is the only effective safe drug known.  It should be
fed to the colony in a sugar syrup.  Applying it as a dust or in patties is
much less effective."
"To date (fumagillin is now 40 years old) extensive tests have failed to
find that nosema has developed resistance."
"Bees can recover from an attack but the spores remain in the hive and can
become active if the bees are stressed."
"Infected equipment can be decontaminated by acetic acid (easy to do), by
ethylene oxide and controlled heating (not so easy)."
"The spores are spread by contaminated faeces.  In a long hard winter these
are voided in the hive and spread when young bees clean up the mess."
"Rough handling causing crushed bees also spreads the infection."
"The most dangerous time to disturb colonies is during late winter and early
spring, when the bees have been confined for long periods."
May I add to the above that if a colony is found dead in the spring and the
cause is not obvious (starvation, etc.) nosema is the likely cause.  The
same goes for a very weak stock coming out of winter.  It is best destroyed
rather than united to a healthy colony as the disease will go with it.  The
whole hive must be considered  to be contaminated.  All wooden parts should
be flamed and the combs fumigated with acetic acid (it won't hurt the
honey).   Acetic acid (80% strength)  is cheap but nasty so learn how to use
it beforehand.  I use an old refrigerator outside as a fume cupboard but the
combs can be stacked as advised by David Eyre.
May I conclude by suggesting that one of the books mentioned above should
find a place on your bookshelf.
Honey Bee Pests, Predators and Diseases by Doctor Roger Morse,  ISBN
O-8014-0975-6, American.
Honey Bee Pathology by Doctor Leslie Bailey,  ISBN O-12-073480-X,  English.
If Larry Connor reads this ([log in to unmask]) perhaps he will say if they
are available in America and in England, Northern Bee Books,
([log in to unmask]).              Sid P.
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Sid Pullinger                    Email :  [log in to unmask]
36, Grange Rd                Compuserve:  [log in to unmask]
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Hants SO24 9HF
England