I made two nucs last week, with three frames and a couple frames of bees shaken in. Two days later, the high temperature dropped 20 degrees and started raining (Highs of mid-60s, low 70s). I'm seeing the mustard streaks on the outside of the nucs, three days after I prepared them. No evidence of this on the hives from which these frames were taken.
It's going to take me a few days to receive any treatment that I order, and by then, the highs will be back over 90. Should I go ahead and order treatment or will the higher temperature take care of things?
Mustard color is normal. Dysentery/Nosema is dark brown to black.
Great! I'm very relieved now. That means (I suppose) that they were looking to eliminate as quickly as possible and return to the hive, thus all the waste on the front? The front is fairly sheltered (comparatively) by the overhang from the lid, and I see bees crawling out and walking all over the front but not flying anywhere. I haven't been home enough during daylight to actually watch long enough to see them actually "going".
Quote from: Robo on August 20, 2007, 10:03:37 PM
Mustard color is normal. Dysentery/Nosema is dark brown to black.
Great topic, I've been thinking about this all week. From what I've read, there is no definitive field diagnosis for Nosema:
http://department.caes.uga.edu/entomology/bees/Disorders/Nosema.htm
I have fecal matter on my protective gear that is certainly not yellow in color, but the color of Ochre. Somewhere between Ochre and Brown on this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochre page describing various shades of brown.
Apparently, one of the simplest ways (short of having a microscope and macerating your bees in some sort of solution and looking for the actual culprit) to definitively diagnose Nosema is stated in the first link in the second paragraph.
I hope that helps!
Quote from: Mklangelo on September 04, 2007, 11:54:51 PM
From what I've read, there is no definitive field diagnosis for Nosema:
That is correct, people often confuse dysentery and nosema. Dysentery is often a symptom of nosema, but dysentery doesn't necessarily mean they have nosema.
It must have been due to the new home/weather, everything has cleared up since. Thanks for the input!