When a hive dies of nosema, do I need to do anything to the hive?

[BoilerJim]

Out of my 9 hives that died over the winter one in particular died due to nosema I am thinking due to all the brown crap all over the top of my inner cover, the walls, the frames etc.
I spend the afternoon cleaning up my dead hives and began to wonder, should I treat or clean the hive I suspect of dying of nosema? There are a few frames of honey that was inside this hive as well. I am planning to utilize the empty hive and honey if/when I get a swarm this spring.

[Edward]

The frames of honey will contaminate the next hive with nosema.

Melt them down and Clean and disinfect the hive.

A microscope with 400x is used to diagnose, small egg shaped spores.

Eat or sell the honey, its ok for humans.


mvh Edward 

[Ray]

Are you sure it was nosema?
I hate to waste comb, if I don't HAVE to.

[Dunkel]

Seems like I read somewhere where freezing for a couple of weeks would reduce the spores.  I have one I suspect.  I will probably just use it and treat the hive.  Probably already spread through robbing anyway.

[tecumseh]

not certain if I have the detail exactly write but I think Dunkel is on to something.... one form of nosema doesn't do well in cold and the other doesn't do well in heat < old cpu cannot recall which is which.

after a long hard and brutal winter Boiler Jim I would not jump to the conclusion that the defecation you saw was in fact the results of nosema.  long periods of confinement can create the same image. 

[camero7]

Freezing kills ceranae but not apis. I would just spray the combs with a 10% bleach solution and reuse them.

[BoilerJim]

Thanks everyone.

Tec. I agree but none of the other 8 hives that dies had all the brown crud on the inside as did this particular hive.

If cold weather kills the spores then we just came thru the coldest winter in 30 years here in Indiana.

I think I will wash down what I can with the bleach water and maybe run my torch around the corners for safe measure.

[crazy8days]

Jim, my hive I lost this winter had brown spots in it as well.  I "think" I lost this hive due to a critter disturbing them and they broke cluster.  Maybe not?   There was critter scat in front of this hive.   The hive is full of capped honey that I want to use for splits.  Thinking i'll do the same and bleach solution frames and boxes.

[CpnObvious]

Based on what I've read here, I'll be PERFECTLY safe... but I figured I better ask...  My two hives died of Nosema 20+ years ago.  Most of the hive pieces I'm getting together to get starting again have been frozen over and over again (stored in an unheated shed for 20+ years).  I have been scraping down all the pieces and parts, gotten rid of all the comb and anything I can scrape off of the supers and frames.  I had debated on trying to sand everything down, too... but I still have NEW parts to make.  Should I try to focus on trying to get everything well sanded, or do y'all feel I'll bee safe?

[Edward]

Nosema 20+ years ago.  Most of the hive pieces I'm getting together to get starting again have been frozen over and over again do y'all feel I'll bee safe?

Nosema dies with heat over 55oC for 24hrs

or flame it all or spray virkon s, but with Wood flaming is a better alternative

mvh Edward 

[pistolpete]

Obvoius:  Nosema will not be a problem, but foulbrood spores remain viable for longer than 20 years (some say 50).  Your best bet is to take a propane torch and flame everything.   You don't need to char the wood, just kind of crisp it a bit.

[CpnObvious]

Thanks for the feedback.  The tools I have that could do a flame is either a map or propane torch.  I can certainly use caution not to char the wood... But if I do, do you think the bees would abandon ship due to smell of fire or anything? My bee delivery has been delayed... Now possibly looking at the 4th or 5th.

[LazyBkpr]

I have boxes that are "lightly" charred and the bees don't seem to mind at all.