Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Beekeepers Pollinating Agricultural Crops

1. Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Beekeepers Pollinating Agricultural Crops elearning modules

2. Module 4: Best Management Practices for Disease Control/Nosema

3. Why is Nosema a problem for honey bees?

4. Scientists agree that Nosemaceranae is the most prevalent and economically damaging of all the honey bee diseases. How much damage to a colony’s overall health can be attributed to the presence of Nosema?

5. In serious cases of Nosema, the colony may eventually die if left untreated. What type of deadly disease is Nosema?

6. Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian, a small, unicellular parasite that has the capacity for long term spore formation. This once-rare microbe, that previously affected only Asian bees, has increased significantly over the past decade in Western honey bees.

7. Nosema apis is a very similar pathogen, yet not as virulent. It is somewhat easier to detect visibly. N. apis causes severe dysentery not usually seen in N. ceranae. This strain of Nosema has been identified for over a century, and is believed to have originated in Europe.

8. Do your colonies have Nosema? How can you check, treat, and verify the efficacy of treatment? What do you say we look into it?

9. It is important to monitor your bees for Nosema (N. apis and N. ceranae) – early detection is the key – and treat to reduce levels, if warranted.

10. Also, monitor Nosema levels and colony condition. How can this be accomplished?

11. Nosema • Check often, when Nosema is most active. Check monthly during the cooler parts of the season. Nosema is not a problem during the summer. • Randomly sample hives. Next: How to check for Nosema!

12. Nosema Check • Collect live bees from the hive entrance or from top bars of the frames. • Keep in mind returning foragers can have a 10-fold higher infection level than inhouse bees.(1) • Collecting foragers at the entrance is a good way to detect nosema before it’s a problem. (1)Martín-Hernández Raquel, Higes Mariano, Garrido M. Encarnación, Meana Aranzazu (2006) Influence of sampling in the detection of Nosema ceranae spores. . Proceedings of the Second European Conference of Apidology EurBee Prague (Czech Republic) 10-16 September 2006

13. Nosema Check • If possible, do an on-site microscopic examination of the honey bee gut to measure spore count. • When levels exceed one million spores per bee, colonies can exhibit dwindling, but this will not always be the case.

14. Next, we will learn how to treat for Nosema

15. Nosema Treatment Chemically control with Fumagillin • Practice judicious treatment. • Follow proper preparation, storage and application.

16. Nosema Treatment Practice good hygiene • Use clean comb. • Clean or replace contaminated equipment.

17. Nosema Treatment Nutrition is essential A good “Fall Flow” of natural or wild forage provides proper nutrition, which in turn eases stress. Remember, a strong immune system = healthy bees.

18. Nosema Treatment How can we assure a good “Fall Flow”? Find a location with abundant and diverse floral resources, preferably with a diversity of natural pollen.

19. Nosema Treatment True or False: We should treat all of our colonies in order to be certain they are free of Nosema? False. Treat based on your risk assessment and previous experience.

20. Treatment Success Are the treatments working? How can we tell? Don’t assume, go back and check for efficacy.

21. The Beekeeper’s Goal: 1. Watch you Nosema levels; Nosema can appear quickly. • Be aware that Nosema in the presence of high mite levels can compromise colony health. 3. Constant monitoring and treatment are critical for healthy bees.

22. www.ProjectApism.org Any questions? Want more information? Email ProjectApis@gmail.com Visit www.ProjectApism.org