> Did not treat for nosema, and saw no evidence of it in my dead outs.

Not my statement but I did take bees from my dead outs and scope them for 
nosema. One hive had stains on the hive and frames so I suspected a problem 
and I did find spores. The bees were well preserved from the cold winter. 
That hive was the only one with nosema problems, I scoped a lot of my dead 
outs. It was a spring package it did not take all their syrup last fall w/ 
Fumagilin. Did not have a micrsope at that time to check them.

I wish they would come up with a at home snap test, grind a few bees, put on 
a drop and it shows positive or negative. Idexx Laboratories has made these 
tests for many things in the animal industry. Beekeeping has exploded as a 
hobby in my area, people with one or two hives would probably buy a test kit 
to check their hives annually. Most check their pets annually for problems 
so why not their bees. Does any one know if such a test exists or is in the 
making? I would probably stick to my scope because of costs but I know it 
would sell to the general beekeeping public.

Karen T-K 

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