malawi2854
House Bee
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2009
- Messages
- 205
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Tonbridge, Kent
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 5
Hello all,
Before spending out on Fumidil-B for my 3 colonies, I thought I would have a go and looking to see if my bees actually HAVE nosema first...
I collected bees from the entrance yesterday, froze for 24 hours, thawed this evening and got busy chopping them in half, and mashing up the remains... not a very pleasant job.
Once I had the bee soup, I put it under the microscope (which I was able to borrow from the Biology lab of the school I work at.
After much fiddling and faffing about, I actually managed to see something... I've no idea WHAT... but definately SOMETHING!
I saw an awful lot of round blobs, and a few much bigger, long twisty bits, which I assume are bits of bee gut - but couldn't find any tic-tac's indicating Nosema.
How likely is it that I just DON'T have it?
I have 3 samples, and have only looked at one so far... but before I chop up any more bees, I would like to make sure I know what I'm looking at!
Don't suppose anyone has any Nosema-riddled bees they'd like to donate for comparison purposes?!?
Before spending out on Fumidil-B for my 3 colonies, I thought I would have a go and looking to see if my bees actually HAVE nosema first...
I collected bees from the entrance yesterday, froze for 24 hours, thawed this evening and got busy chopping them in half, and mashing up the remains... not a very pleasant job.
Once I had the bee soup, I put it under the microscope (which I was able to borrow from the Biology lab of the school I work at.
After much fiddling and faffing about, I actually managed to see something... I've no idea WHAT... but definately SOMETHING!
I saw an awful lot of round blobs, and a few much bigger, long twisty bits, which I assume are bits of bee gut - but couldn't find any tic-tac's indicating Nosema.
How likely is it that I just DON'T have it?
I have 3 samples, and have only looked at one so far... but before I chop up any more bees, I would like to make sure I know what I'm looking at!
Don't suppose anyone has any Nosema-riddled bees they'd like to donate for comparison purposes?!?