Where would I send a sample to test for a nosema spore count.
Is there a lab near Michigan?
 
Heidi Fredrick
Ypsilanti, MI
 
-----Original Message-----
From:   Excerpts from BEE-L [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Monday, February 23, 1998 11:40 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: More Dead Bees, Nosema
 
From:          Vince Coppola <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:       Re: More Dead Bees, Nosema
        The symptom you report indicates dysentary. Dysentary is
simply diahrea
and can be caused by poor quality winter stores, inadequate winter
flight, nosema, other infections. It is also associated with
prolonged
damp conditions and or tracheal mites.
 
        My personal observation is that nosema has increased since the
arrival
of tracheal mites and that it is now a serious problem, at least here
in
NY. As I've said before here on Bee-L, I think more beekeepers should
be
sending bee samples in for nosema spore counts. The "do an experiment
method" may be fun but in the long run expensive, just sent bees to
the
lab and you'll know if your bees are infected. The scientists,
notably
Dr. Furgla, have already proved fumagillin works.
 
        Remember folks, winter losses are just the tip on the nosema
iceberg.
Nosema levels peak in mid to late summer in the north. Nosema reduces
the length of a bees life by up to 33%. What is a bee doing during
the
last 33% of life? Ever see hives that look normal except that they
were
not making as much honey as other colonies? Of course there are other
factors but nosema is one. And it has rescently been identified as an
important factor of queen performance.
 
        As someone else mentioned, equipment can be contaminated with
nosema
spores. This can be rectified with a good medication program using
fumaggillin. Dr. Furgala recomended a 2 gal. treatment each fall and
1
gal. each spring as a MINIMUM treatment to control nosema. Although
expensive it is more cost effective that replacing equipment
especially
if you depend on an income from your bees.
 
        Regarding the "Pulling a bee apart and looking at the mid
gut?" test
for nosema, I've found this is reliable only when the result is
positive. Often when the result is negative a spore count indicates a
high infection rate.
 
        Hope this helps,  Vince