Apiary demonstration
Photographs courtesy of Fiona Barton.
Sunday 18th May 2014
Our first apiary demonstration for 2014 took place at the association apiary in Bantry on Sunday.
The weather Gods were on our side and we had glorious sunny day
The members split into two groups with Jerry Cronin taking some members and Michael O Neill the rest.
The weather Gods were on our side and we had glorious sunny day
The members split into two groups with Jerry Cronin taking some members and Michael O Neill the rest.
Jerry opening a hive
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Jerry Cronin's Group
Hive 1 The first hive that Jerry opened had been a cause for concern. It had been slower to build up than the other hives in the apiary. Jerry had given them a feed earlier but they had been slow to take the feed. He suspected that there may have been a disease in that hive. A sample of 30 bees were taken from the entrance to the hive and put in a match box for testing later. Hive 2 This hive had been inspected 3 weeks earlier and was very strong. On opening the hive on Sunday there was just a small number of bees left in the hive. There were no eggs and the pollen was shiny and unused. There was chalk brood on some of the frames. On the day no queen was seen and the assumption was made that the hive was queen-less. A few more hives were opened, the queens found and brood, queen cups and drones were demonstrated to the beginners. Jerry caught a drone and showed us how one would hold the queen for marking. |
Michael O Neill's Group
Mike opened a few hives explaining to the 5 questions one should ask oneself when opening a hive. 1. Has the colony sufficient room? 2. Is the queen present and laying the sufficient amount of eggs? 3. a. Early in the season is the colony building up as fast as the other colonies in the apiary? b. Mid season are there any queen cells present ? 4. Are there any signs of disease or abnormality? 5. Has the colony sufficient stores to last until the next inspection? He then demonstrated pollen, brood and stores to the beginners. |
We all gathered together for some tea and biscuits while the bees from Hive 1 were tested for disease.
Disease Diagnostics
Acarine
The sample of bees from Hive 1 was first anesthetized and then killed with insect killing fluid.
The bees were then mounted on a cork with the use of an acarine needle.
The thoracic collar was removed and the 1st pair of thoracic trachea examined for signs of acarine.
Sequential testing was done on 12 bees, all were negative for acarine.
The sample of bees from Hive 1 was first anesthetized and then killed with insect killing fluid.
The bees were then mounted on a cork with the use of an acarine needle.
The thoracic collar was removed and the 1st pair of thoracic trachea examined for signs of acarine.
Sequential testing was done on 12 bees, all were negative for acarine.
Healthy Bee on left. Bee with Acarine on right, look at the staining in the bees trachea on the right
Nosema
The bees abdomens were then crushed, water added and the samples examined under a compound microscope using 400X magnification.
It was then that we saw the problem with Hive 1.
It had a high level of infection with nosema, the spores look like rice grains under the microscope.
The bees abdomens were then crushed, water added and the samples examined under a compound microscope using 400X magnification.
It was then that we saw the problem with Hive 1.
It had a high level of infection with nosema, the spores look like rice grains under the microscope.
Monday 19th May 2014
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Hive 1
This hive had been slow to build up in the spring and had been diagnosed with nosema.
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Hive 2
Originally it had been though that this hive was queen less but on further inspection a young queen was seen. She had not as yet started laying. What is thought to have happened is this:-
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Tuesday 16th June 2014
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Hive 1
Hive in great shape now. Building up well and tested Nosema negative ! |