Odd (Watching the Hive)

rail · June 27, 2011, 09:36:04 PM

This evening I noticed one bee fly from the hive, land on the ground, walk away from the hive and excrete a yellow-brown substance from it's abdomen. Then it walked toward the woods away from the hive.

Has any one seen this before and what is the behavior? What is the yellow-brown excretion?

AllenF · June 27, 2011, 09:40:13 PM

Do you have any streaks of the same color on the sides of your hive? Might be nosema. Most bees are flying when they poop.

rail · June 27, 2011, 10:00:02 PM

I have only noticed three to four spots or streaks, of that color, on the hive or stand since package install (43 days).

Yellow-brown excretion, bee poop?

iddee · June 27, 2011, 10:44:57 PM

Do a search on FUMAGILIN-B. You may want to try some.

rail · June 27, 2011, 11:08:07 PM

I really want to be chemical free! :-\

iddee · June 27, 2011, 11:25:50 PM

OK. If they have nosema, go ahead and place your order for bees for spring delivery. You will have a box to put them in.

rail · June 28, 2011, 05:55:47 AM

Does anyone use tea tree oil for treatment?

Changes to hive activity!

They are consuming 1.5 to 2 oz. of 1:1, instead of 1 oz. or less a day. Could this cause dysentery?

In the evenings they congregate on the SBB inside the hive during orientation flights. The entrance is reduced to one inch. Should I increase the entrance size? Could this effect their cleansing flights?

The fecal streaks or spots are rare and minute, in 43 days since package install.

Larry Bees · June 28, 2011, 11:15:35 AM

Quote from: iddee on June 27, 2011, 11:25:50 PM
OK. If they have nosema, go ahead and place your order for bees for spring delivery. You will have a box to put them in.

:lau: :lau: :lau:

Wow! I didn't know that it was that serious! That's why I'm here. Learning new stuff every day.

Larry

iddee · June 28, 2011, 02:42:30 PM

With Nosema Apis, they may have it for years before it kills them. Before it does, the hive will likely have feces all over it. Plenty of time to treat.

With Nosema Cerranae, there may be little, if any, outward signs before the hive perishes.

Nosema is the ONLY thing I recommend preventative treatments for. All others, I recommend treating only after confirming the need.

Larry Bees · June 28, 2011, 07:10:53 PM

Thanks! That's very good information to know. Larry

rail · June 28, 2011, 07:25:28 PM

Inspect hive today and found 20+ dead bees on the ground and worker bees carrying out more. No outward appearance of fecal waste. :(

Collected the bees and took to have tested!

Opened the hive, the bees are drawing comb and expanding. Also cleaning house!

rail · July 02, 2011, 01:47:46 PM

Test results were negative for nosema.

Their has been a few other beekeepers with same condition this past week, the only conclusion is pesticide. Sevin Dust. :(

I have noticed local gardeners applying Sevin these past few weeks and the other beekeepers also noticed the same for their area.

T Beek · July 03, 2011, 07:59:32 AM

rail; your description sounds like normal bee-poop to me. Unless its 'mostly brown' and spread all over the hive bodies 'I' wouldn't be too concerned. Poisoning is something else altogether

I have two vehicles, my truck and my wife's car, both are white, and both have little yellowish polka-dot splotches sprinkled all over them ;). As said, healthy bees poop 'outside' and Winter bees can hold it for six months or more.

How do you know when someone is keeping bees :-D? Poop Stamps, that's a sure bet.

thomas