Nosema disease in honey bees is caused by the protozoa spore nosema apis that infects the epithelial cells of the bees’ ventricles. Nosema ceranae is another type of nosema discovered in bees in our region recently, and it is believed that this may play a role in the heavy losses that many beekeepers have experienced.

Fumagilin-B, an antibiotic registered for the treatment of nosema infection in honey bees, is the recommended method of control. Fumagilin-B works by attacking the actively multiplying disease-producing parasites in the bee’s digestive tract.

Fumagilin-B should be fed only in sugar syrup, as dusting and extender patties are not very effective.

Medicated syrup should be fed in the fall after the honey supers have been removed. This fall feeding is very important to protect bees during the winter season, when they’re cooped up in the hive. About 8 to 12 litres (2-3 gallons) of 2:1 sugar syrup will usually be needed for each colony. If you’re making your own sugar syrup for fall feeding, mix 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. Commercial bee syrup may also be used.

Mix 1 rounded teaspoon of Fumagilin-B into 4 ounces of warm water (38-49°C or 100-120°F), and stir this into 4 litres (1 US gallon) of sugar syrup until it has dissolved. One 454g bottle of Fumagilin-B will usually be enough to treat 50 colonies.

Country Fields Beekeeping Supplies website has a fact sheet with more information about the safe and effective use of Fumagilin-B to treat both Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Volunteers from the Central Beekeepers Alliance have once again set up a display booth at the Fredericton Exhibition (FREX) and will be there all week, answering questions and talking to visitors about honey bees and beekeeping.

As usual, local honey and the association’s own honey cookbooks are for sale at the CBA booth. And, of course, we’ve got beekeeping gear and equipment on display — as well as the stars of the show, a glass-sided observation hive of live honey bees and their queen.

CBA member and keen photographer Richard Duplain took a few minutes away from manning the beekeeping booth to record a few moments in the week-long event. (Click on any thumbnail pictures to view.) Thanks, Richard, for sharing these pictures!

Richard and Norma Duplain took these photographs of their honey bees in July, as the bees were busy foraging in the vegetable and flower gardens at their home in New Brunswick. Richard was kind enough to share pictures of his honeybees in lupines earlier in the season. Now, enjoy More Honey Bee Photographs in this slideshow:

This note came in today from a New Brunswick beekeeper in the Fredericton area — and we’re saddened to hear of yet another beekeeper who is getting out of the business. If you are interested in purchasing his hives and equipment, please contact Dan directly:

Reluctantly, I have to sell my apiary. I’ve got 39 single broodchamber hives, 2 doubles and a variety of boxes, Quebec style bee escapes, queen excluders and trayfeeders. 6500.00 FIRM.

I would also like to thank you all for the kindness and support that you’ve shown me these past few years. I’m honoured to have been a part of such an outstanding group of people. It’s hard going back to hamburger when you’ve had steak for so long. God bless you all.

Dan Cornford
beeworks@rogers.com

New Brunswick beekeepers got a bit of attention in the NB Business Journal this Saturday morning, with the publication of a short piece on the business side of beekeeping, written by Doug Watling.

Don and Marlene Price (Gagetown, NB) and Claude Hachey (Nectar Valley Apiary, Bathurst, NB) were interviewed for the article.

The Prices are both active members of the Central Beekeepers Alliance — in fact, Marlene has served for some time as the CBA’s very capable Secretary.

Read the article online at http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/gleaner/article/386546.