Jerry;

I think East coast Nosema is affected by location too, as I have stated
before.  I live just below Virginia, and I have abandoned all yards that
are low and damp and my Nosema infection rate is way down.  This is
anecdotal but I can see a big difference.  My field diagnosis involves
hives not taking feed from division board feeders in the top of the hive,
usually in the early spring.  I now carry a one gallon Solo sprayer with
Fumidil and Nosevit mixed and spray the affected hives over the top of the
frames.  I can salvage probably 80% of the hives.  I learned from peach
growers about air damming from trees and find that cold air will dam in bee
yards cleared in dense forest land.

Speaking of feeders, we should start a thread on use of feeders and other
'indirect indicators' for diagnostic work.  I can look at the rate of feed
withdrawal and give a pretty good diagnosis of the strength and health of a
hive, similar to watching flight activity at the entrance, paying attention
to the odor of the hive, or listening to the sound of the hive.

Bill Lord
Louisburg, NC

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