Hi

[Flabellum]

Just a quick post to say hello and introduce myself. Been a "lurker" for quite a while so took the plunge to join and post. Consider myself quite an experienced beekeeper in that I no longer use matchsticks to keep my crown boards open.. Although not in the same league as many on here.
Spent a bit of time working with microscopes if that could be of any help to anyone.
No replies neccessary.

 

[REDWOOD]

great to have a experienced beekeeper and experienced with microscopes. There is a few of use that like spending hours peering down some oculars, amateurs of course

 

[REDWOOD]

MuswellMetro lives in London (as you can tell by his user name) and he loves his microscopes

 

[pargyle]

Welcome ... Like many beekeepers I have a microscope .. Not a great one - Bresser Biolam - but it does the job. I really only use it for Nosema testing (not that I have ever found any !!).

I'd like to do more with it but the bees just seem to dominate the time I have available for beekeeping - perhaps now winter is here I can start and do a bit more. Perhaps you have some suggestions as to what we should be using our microscopes for - maybe not just beekeeping - any suggestions welcomed.

 

[Flabellum]

Welcome ... Like many beekeepers I have a microscope .. Not a great one - Bresser Biolam - but it does the job. I really only use it for Nosema testing (not that I have ever found any !!).

I'd like to do more with it but the bees just seem to dominate the time I have available for beekeeping - perhaps now winter is here I can start and do a bit more. Perhaps you have some suggestions as to what we should be using our microscopes for - maybe not just beekeeping - any suggestions welcomed.

Grab some pond/ditch water sit it somewhere warm for a few days and examine.
If you fancy oil immersion, get some of that gunge from the bottom of your nail brush electric toothbrush and examine.
Very useful for checking out what pollen's are in your honey. It's amazing how many of them are so difficult to identify for certain

 

[Erichalfbee]

Looking for pollen grains in our honey is on the list next year

 

[Flabellum]

You should find it fascinating....and frustrating.
As in what the hell is that they've been feeding on.
My "lime" honey has not a single lime grain in it!