Hello all,

When I tried this with the sort of small portable UV source sold for
looking for checking fluorescent security markings, I found that AFB
scales did not fluoresce, but pollen and other materials in the comb did
as Blane noted.

I believe that wave length of the UV source is important. A short
wavelength (high-energy) source may work where the commoner long
wave-length will not.

James

Blane White wrote:

> I have used UV light in an educational demonstration for teaching beekeepers how to look for AFB scale.  It works very well but many other biological materials also fluoresce such as pollen and even the combs seem to have a little but the scale shows up nicely.
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James Morton                    'Geertje', Canal Lock 92,
S.E Regional Bee Inspector      Windmill Lane, Norwood Green,
National Bee Unit               Southall, Middlesex, UB2 4NH
Environmental Biology Group     Tel/fax: 0208 571 6450
Central Science Laboratory      Mobile:  07719 924418
Web: http://www.csl.gov.uk      e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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