This is an interesting thread of discussion on N. ceranae. One of the important facts about Nosema all research results are most likely based on regions. As we notice in some countries, there are reports no kill others there is kill. For example, here in Alberta Canada and I am specific though it can be generalized for all Canada "NOSEMA KILL BEEES". Our Surveillance program for 5 years of sampling thousands of bee colonies in spring and fall showed yes Nosema kills bees. We have some operations mites were under control but Nosema killed up to 75% of the bees. You walk to the bee yard you can smell the rotten bees. You don't need a microscope to count spores.  Keep in mind bees don't fly for 5 or more months due to something called Winter/ White stuff on the ground.

I Can't stand in Alberta at a beekeepers' meeting and with straight face say no Nosema does not kill bees. Either I will be 6' under or I am full of ****. The question is what are factors favor Nosema to kill in certain years and not in others under our conditions? This is a big gap of information. Beekeepers asked me recently to tackle this issue. I think I have their support - NO Government money by the way.  A side story, we had Stephen Martin last year as a speaker and he shared with yes his results about Hawaii and no bee kill from Nosema.   The response from the room was we should send our bees for wintering in Hawaii  for a cleansing flight and the trip will be tax detectable.

Based on our observations, sampling in spring after cleansing flights is more sensitive to provide accurate data about nosema infection in comparison to Fall (September) sampling. This for sure reflects the type of bees. Fall sample is biased due to summer bees and mostly you find 0000'z. However once you get to sampling in October / November  samples will reflect better data for the status of nosema in  bee  colonies. Yes last year we sampled 2 apiaries for nosema once a month as weather permitted . The nosema peak was in March and millions of spores found. Colonies start to die and bees cluster was depleted due to beekil. All the dead bees were in the hive.  Keep in mind last winter/spring we did not have a week of nice weather for bees' cleansing flight. Under out climate we are blessed in certain years we have a week late February early march. During this special week temp is 15 C or more and bees can fly. If it happens it will be great for the bees to go out and defecate. This type of observations and beekeeping reports trigged us to investigate in details what is going one. By the way Canadian rely on fumagillin to get them through winter and reduce nosema impacts on winter kill.

Hope this helps.

Medhat


Dr. Medhat Nasr
Alberta Provincial Apiculturist
Pest Surveillance Branch
Crop Research and Extension
Agriculture and Rural Development
17507 Fort Road NW
Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3 Canada
Tel: 780-415-2314             Fax: 780-422- 6096
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]


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