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From: Medhat Nasr [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Fri 2007.10.05 22:11
To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
Subject: Re: [BEE-L] treating with fumidil
Randy said:
There are various anecdotal recommendations going around. Medhat Nasr
suggests that some are at far too high a concentration. He recommends
using
the product about double strength. The label suggests 1:1 syrup, but
beekeepers prefer 2:1. The recommended rate is 1 lb (454g) Fumagilin to
45gal heavy syrup. Dribble 4 oz per colony, or up to 8 oz for strong
colonies. Repeat after a week.
I would like clarify the above statement. I did not recommend any of the
above. A commercial beekeeper from the US inquired about a recipe used
in Canada. I tried to find any scientific root for the recipe. I found his
recommendation is completely far from any recommendations on any label in
Canada, The only close recommendation that mentioned spraying of
fumagillin was on the Medivet label. Therefore, I faxed the label to the
US commercial beekeeper including information provided by an Albertan
beekeeper who used this method. The recommendation on the label states
the following "Heavily infested colonies that will no longer take syrup
may be sprayed repeatedly, directly onto the bees, Frame by Frame with 1:1
sugar syrup (one part sugar to one part water) contain 2 g of
fumagillin/liter of syrup."
In fact my question to the few beekeepers who are using the above method,
was "How much do you apply each time? The answer was Hummm It is a good
question. Then, I got the answer Oh well 2- 4,... oz....and it depends on
the colony size......, etc. I would also like to add the above
recommendation mentioned "may be sprayed repeatedly". Question till
WHEN??????. If I was the reviewer of this label I would absolutely
question that statement and remove it from the label.
In fact, my general recommendation is that is the recommendation on the
label for fall treatment. Feed 2 gallons of (2:1) (sugar: water). The
fumagillin concentration is one bottle of 454 g / 95 gallon of syrup).
This comes to about 190 mg/hive of two brood chamber. If the bees required
further treatment in the spring, Please follow the label for spring
treatment. The fumagillin mixed in sugar syrup recommendation was tested
against mixing fumagillin with powder sugar, or patties, but the efficacy
was always significantly higher when bees fed fumagillin in sugar syrup.
Do we need to test other effective means to apply fumagillin and update
the label, I would say YES, YES. Simply, When Alberta beekeepers tried to
feed their bees with fumagillin medicated sugar syrup last fall, the bees
did not take down the feed because of no room. Hives were jammed with
honey. As a result, treatment failed and higher percentages of colonies
died from Nosema. This is an example to show a draw back on relying on
this method for feeding bees.
I understand that some beekeepers like to find an easy and inexpensive way
to control Nosema. Unfortunately, so far, there is no easy quick fix for
nosema. Here it comes all of anecdotal recommendations with no follow up
and no spore counts.Unless the method is tested I would suggest to refrain
from wasting your money.
Medhat
Medhat Nasr, Ph. D.
Provincial Apiculturist
Crop Diversification Centre North
17507 Fort Road
Edmonton, AB, Canada T5Y 6H3
Tel: (780) 415-2314 Fax: (780) 422-6096
Mailto:[log in to unmask]
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