In a message dated 03/10/2007 01:46:43 GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask]  
writes:

We have  the 400 power microscope but have never known how to prepare a slide
for  checking for Nosema and what to look for. We would really appreciate it
if  you could you give me a "microscope for dummies" version of how to
prepare  a slide and what to look for etc or refer me to somewhere that  would
provide this.



This rough and ready method will bring down a horde of sneerful, scornful  
mails from the posh folks who do it the proper way. As you're Commonwealth I can 
 use terms with which our host might not be too familiar.
 
Invert a teacup. Into the concave base crush with a teaspoon the  abdomens of 
a few bees from a known hive.  Add a few drops of distilled  water (ice 
scrapings from the freezer wall allowed to melt).  Stir.  Transfer a drop of the 
fluid to the slide. Add a cover slip. Place on the  microscope stage. Focus. 
Look at the fluid. You will see all sorts of floating  gubbins: vacuum cleaner 
hoses; leafless fir trees; silver balloons; rounded  geometrical shapes of 
varying complexity and size; grains of rice.  These  are tracheae; plumose hairs; 
air bubbles; pollen grains; nosema spores, in that  order.
 
I hope that helps.
 
Chris



   

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