Sad to say I lost my two hives this winter. Actually one made it till spring but recently dwindled and diied. Should I re-use frames stained with fecal matter? Is there any way to disinfect?
Quote from: md on March 30, 2008, 10:04:22 PM
Sad to say I lost my two hives this winter. Actually one made it till spring but recently dwindled and diied. Should I re-use frames stained with fecal matter? Is there any way to disinfect?
Never heard of bees staining the frames with fecal matter, They do cleansing flights and release their poop then. Bees will clean house, unless what you are seeing is extremely unusual, I wouldn't hesitate to reuse your equipment.
...JP
I would probably reuse them as is. But they could have Nosema spores on them. The typical treatment for that is acetic acid vaporization.
Quote from: Michael Bush on March 30, 2008, 10:42:16 PM
I would probably reuse them as is. But they could have Nosema spores on them. The typical treatment for that is acetic acid vaporization.
Michael, is there any test he can do to determine what he had? Or should he just treat?
...JP
>Michael, is there any test he can do to determine what he had? Or should he just treat?
The only information I've seen on diagnosing Nosema are looking at the contents of the guts of a just stripped bee (one that was alive when you started). I don't know what the size of the spores is or what they look like.
I don't treat. Odds are they were just confined too long, but they could have had Nosema. I don't have any research, but judging by the response of other things such as AFB spores, I'd guess that chlorine bleach in a spray bottle would probably kill Nosema spores. But I have not seen that anywhere. What I have seen published is the acetic acid fumigation.
Thanks for the suggestions. It is my guess that they were confined too long since we have had longer than normal spells of either cold or wet weather here in the Pacific North West. (Although both hives had plenty of honey left.) My first thought was to use bleach water and since I know nothing about the other treatment, I may try using bleach. I think I will scrap the worst of them since I have enough frames to get started with - my new packages are due to arrive next weekend.
md, just noticed that you are a new member. Welcome to our forums, when you have some time why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself in the greetings forum? We love to hear about what people are up to, and where you live, and so on. Update your profile so we know what part of the PNW you are in. I am in southwestern British Columbia, considered part of the PNW.
You have found the great place to ask your questions, you are receiving answers. We all love to ask questions and read the answers. Enjoy your stay with us, we are a friendly and very helpful group, you will meet some new friends here. Have a wonderful and great day, love our life we live. Cindi
md, I might be of a little more local help living in the "Gateway to the San Juan Islands." Post your area location on your profile so we can help you better. Spokane as conditions more like Iowa, while the Tri-Cities area is more like St. Louis, Mo., while Southwest Washington is more like the gulf coast only colder. Where your at makes a difference on the advice you'll get.
For example: Telling somebody in Florida to winter wrap his hives is opposite of the needed advice.
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on April 03, 2008, 12:50:39 AM
md, I might be of a little more local help living in the "Gateway to the San Juan Islands." Post your area location on your profile so we can help you better. Spokane as conditions more like Iowa, while the Tri-Cities area is more like St. Louis, Mo., while Southwest Washington is more like the gulf coast only colder. Where your at makes a difference on the advice you'll get.
For example: Telling somebody in Florida to winter wrap his hives is opposite of the needed advice.
Wow, you have a very diverse climate. I live in Delaware and our weather here is just like the weather in Delaware.