The sample of bees required is 30 per colony. All the abdomens are separated
and crushed with some water, use a shallow dish or watch glass and a spoon
(or glass rod to do the rushing). Tilt the dish so that the dirty water
separates from the debris of the crushed bodies.

Take a drop of the dirty liquid ( use a glass rod) place it on slide, cover
and examine at X400, nosema spores have been described as being the shape of
'rice grains' with a hard bright edge.

There will be a lot of much pollen grains, hairs from the bee etc. Shift the
focus slightly up and down and the 'rice grains' will become very clear.

Most colonies of bees will have some nosema grains, it is when you see
numerous grains that you should get worried.

Treatment is by the use of fumigillan and the 'Baily shift', the latter gets
the colony onto clean frames with minimal disruption of the colony.

Sterlise all brood combs when removed from the colony with fumigation with
80% acetic acid, (food grade will suffice).

Ruary

-----Original Message-----
We have the 400 power microscope but have never known how to prepare a slide
for checking for Nosema and what to look for.

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