- Joined
- Apr 10, 2010
- Messages
- 11,430
- Reaction score
- 3,180
- Location
- Stoke on Trent
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
- Number of Hives
- 6 to 8 Langstroth jumbos, a few Langstroth and National nucs.
one hive decided to do a few toilet flights in the afternoon.. (Yes it was my sole polyhive)
That got me thinking - as it does for some of us - so I am now wondering about nosema and whether or not polyhive colonies are less affected than those in timber hives (at least the uninsulated ones) because the bees can take the opportunity for more cleansing flights from polyhives.
Clearly the infection is often there, but the progression of the disease may be far less damaging if the bees can manage to poop away from the hive.
Any one with any thoughts, data, or comment on the possibility?
Hypothesis is: Survival of overwintering colonies, which are infected with nosema (apis variety), is superior for colonies housed in polyhives compared to those in uninsulated timber hives.
RAB
Well until this winter, the only bees I wintered were in TBHs or warres. TBHs have much worse thermal characteristics than box hives due to the greater area of the roof.. (yes mine have insulated roofs but...)
So far (touch wood and cross toes), In five winters I have seen no incidence of nosema so bad as to show the classic external signs - poo on the external sides of the hives. Not to say there is none or I have not had an outbreak.. but no visible signs.