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Author Topic: Nosema already?  (Read 4845 times)

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Offline hamptor

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Nosema already?
« on: February 01, 2015, 03:37:09 pm »
I think my bees have nosema already.   I've got lethargic bees clinging to the cinder blocks under the hives, and lots and lots of strings of dots of bee poop on the cinder blocks and on the hive.  I treated them with Fumigilin in the fall, but looks like they need a new dose.  We've got mid-50's today and mid 40's tomorrow.  Temps will get down to 25 tomorrow night.    Is it a mistake to treat them now?  I hate putting liquid syrup in the hive in early February, but don't want to lose the hive!
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2015, 03:43:53 pm »
BumMer! If it were me I would get syrup on them pronto! Maybe make sure the holes in the lids are small but many, as to not have the syrup drip from the jar.

Unless of course, there is another way to get fumigilin into them. I would be curious about that as well.
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Offline hamptor

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2015, 03:54:11 pm »
I'm boiling the syrup now.  I'm using 1:1 sugar syrup.   Hope that's right...
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Offline iddee

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2015, 04:06:03 pm »
I would hold off for a few days. Look at this link.


http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,3269.0.html
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2015, 04:18:41 pm »
Curious Iddee, why would you hold off a few days if the bees are obviously sick?
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Offline hamptor

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2015, 04:22:21 pm »
OK, Iddee, I'll wait and see how it goes. Mine doesn't look anything as bad as the picture Tefer posted.   I'll have the syrup ready for later.  I guess it's a matter of distinguishing between what's normal bee pooping and what's a problelm.   
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2015, 04:23:06 pm »
Pictures really help Hampton  :)
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Offline iddee

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2015, 05:29:58 pm »
''"Curious Iddee, why would you hold off a few days if the bees are obviously sick?""

Did you click the link?
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2015, 05:31:48 pm »
Yep, sure did... been following that thread. I don't see anything on that thread that convinces me to hold off on treating for nosema.. ?
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Offline iddee

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2015, 05:57:53 pm »
How about holding off on putting water in the hive when the temp is going into the 20's F.?
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2015, 06:19:18 pm »
Is there another way to treat for nosema without using syrup? Does Hamptor let the nosema ride it out in the hive until the weather warms up? The bees could be dead by then...

I do understand that we don't want water inside the hive during winter. However, I suggested lids with small holes so that there is no chance of the lids dripping..

It would be very hard for me to stand by and let the bees continue to get sick, it's too early in the season. What would you do Iddee?  :)
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Offline iddee

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2015, 06:32:56 pm »
What you are suggesting is:

Kill the bees so they won't die. 

It's not the dripping of the sugar water. The bees will carry the water in and begin evaporating it. The moisture laden air will condense as it rises. Then drip back down as water, not sugar water.

If treatment a week from now won't save them, I doubt treatment will save them now. The water will kill them.  Of course, if it's cleansing flights and is gone in a week, treatment won't be needed.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2015, 07:02:18 pm »
We've got mid-50's today and mid 40's tomorrow.  Temps will get down to 25 tomorrow night.

The difficulty is convincing the bees to TAKE syrup when its that cold at night. If you warm the syrup, and the temps get warm enough for them to begin moving, they may take it. Then you may lose them form the excess moisture.
   THis is why it is important to get the syrup into the hives in the fall so they store it, and then use it during the course of the winter.. I did pump the syrup to them in the fall, but they used it as fast as I gave it to them. The result is, that I am feeding sugar because that is all that they will take, and what can be safely given.  I have lost two hives to Nosema so far.  I can promise you I wont make this same mistake again.
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Offline rwlaw

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2015, 08:48:49 pm »
When you can pop the lid and see if they're making a mess inside the hive or on the landing board.
I would hesitate to medicate till all options are explored, because of the inherent moisture problem and also fumigilin is a inoculation for the prevention of nosema not a cure. Kind of hard to stop the spread of it because of ingestion of the spores by the other bees trying to clean up the mess.
 
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nosema already?
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2015, 12:13:30 am »
True RW, I wasn't considering using fumigilin this last fall, then I did some homework and learned how dangerous nosema is. Glad I did, but like you say, it's only preventative, not a cure... keeping my fingers crossed
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