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

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

3. Why is Nosema a problem for honey bees?

4. Scientists agree that Nosema ceranae 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) 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. Chemically control with Fumagillin
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. Nutrition is essential
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. True or False: We should treat all of our
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. Are the treatments working? How can we tell?
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. Any questions? Want more information? Email ProjectApis@gmail.com
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