I have some hives with spotty brood patterns. Possibly nosema issues?? Varroa?? Should i be feeding some fumiligan B ???
A Spotty brood pattern is usually a weak (weakening) queen. However early in the spring and late in the Fall as brood nests expand & contract a good laying queen may produce what looks like spotty looking patterns.
I don't think it is a function of nosema or varroa. I know of NO medication that aids this issue. It is Spring now so from the hip I would say requeen. Something many beeks do every year anyway. If you see Drone cells you can start making queens.
If you posted a picture it would be easier to discuss.
I dont know about that nosema can effect the queens egg laying ability this queen is a second year queen lots of bees in the hive and there is 8 frames of brood just spotty. Maybe they will straighten out we will see. There is no queen cells started for supercedure so maybe some have some other thoughts. Chris
Quote from: backyard warrior on March 14, 2012, 05:36:59 PM
I have some hives with spotty brood patterns. Possibly nosema issues?? Varroa?? Should i be feeding some fumiligan B ???
There are many reasons but not nosema
reasons are .....
- lack of pollen for rainy or cold weathers - no pollen stores in combs. They have eaten larvae to get protein
- chalk brood (white crumbs on bottom)
- EFB - half eaten brood in cells, collapsed larvae
- inbreeding (same bee gang too long, all queens sisters)
- over all a bad quality of bee stock
Nosema does not exist in Spring