Nosema disease of bees: what are it and symptoms of the disease, methods of treatment and prevention

Under the nosematosis of bees understand the invasive pathology of adults, drones and queens. This violation is caused by parasites - nosema. They are localized in the midgut of insects. The disease is predominantly found in areas with long winters. At the same time, it develops closer to spring, when the wintering of bees is not yet over. To cope with the violation, it is necessary to take action in a timely manner.

What is nosematosis in bees

This term is understood as an infection that often provokes the mass death of bees and leads to significant losses for beekeepers. The disease usually affects bee colonies at the end of winter.

Its development is provoked by parasites - nosema, which are concentrated in the intestines of bees. Their spores can live for a long time in the body of a bee and its feces, without showing themselves in any way. In conditions of high temperature and humidity, the symptoms of the disease appear literally for 3-4 days.

The development of nosematosis occurs against the backdrop of a weakening of the immune system of insects. Most often this occurs at the end of a long winter. However, sometimes outbreaks of infection are observed in autumn and spring. In summer, symptoms of pathology do not appear. However, during this period, the products of the vital activity of bees and objects with which the insects come into contact become infected.

Routes of infection

Bees can become infected from these sources:

• external environment;
• water with parasite spores;
• feed;
• faeces of infected insects;
• infected bees;
• cells with infection;
• drones and thieving bees.

The risk of developing the disease increases significantly in the following conditions:

• lack of natural food;
• dwelling in cold areas with long winters;
• sudden fluctuations in temperature;
• violation of the microclimate in the hive;
• presence of honeydew in feed.

Signs and symptoms

The main manifestations of the disease include the following:

• severe diarrhea, frequent bowel movements;
• significant contamination of the hive walls;
• eating lots of bee bread and honey;
• very disturbing insects, especially in winter;
• changing the consistency of feces - they become watery and acquire a pronounced sour smell;
• flight of infected bees from the hive and subsequent death of insects;
• brood reduction;
• loss of working capacity 1-2 weeks after injury;
• deterioration of response to external stimuli;
• insect lethargy;
• flabbiness and bloating of the abdomen;
• wing flutter;
• paralysis and paresis of limbs;
• strong noise in the hive during wintering;
• increase in the number of deaths;
• very slow family development.

Diagnostic Methods

To identify the disease, it is recommended to focus on the clinical picture, epidemiological data and laboratory tests. If infection is suspected in a particular family, the following is sent to the laboratory:

• 50-100 live bees from a family;
• faeces;
• washes from foundation sheets;
• dead queen or fresh dead 10-20% of families that live in the apiary;
• 5 grams of honey, 0.5 grams of perga.

Treatments

To cope with nosematosis, it is important to take action in a timely manner. Otherwise, the probability of losing all broods is high. First, the remaining individuals must be sent to a cleansing flyby.After returning, they must be placed in clean houses, and contaminated dwellings must be thoroughly disinfected.

Drug therapy

The following medications are recommended for the treatment of nosematosis:

1. "Nosemacid" - is produced in powder form. To get a treatment solution, for 10 liters you need to take 2.5 grams of powder mixed with 30 milliliters of water. The finished solution must be applied to the frames - 100 milliliters each. The procedure should be performed 2 times with an interval of 5 days.
2. "Fumagilin-B" - for the manufacture of the medicine, it is recommended to take 20 grams of the substance and mix it with 4 kilograms of powdered sugar and 1 kilogram of melted honey. The finished composition should be placed on bars of bee frames of 100-150 grams per 1 street. It is permissible to use the drug until mid-April.
3. "Enteroseptol" - crushed tablets are recommended to be added to top dressing. For 1 liter of syrup, you should use 1 milligram of the product.

Folk remedies

To prevent and eliminate nosematosis, you can use folk recipes. Active ingredients include:

1. Garlic tincture. To prepare it, you need to take 1 milliliter of the composition and 200-250 milliliters of syrup.
2. Hot pepper tincture. For its manufacture, it is recommended to take 50 grams of dried pepper and 1 liter of boiling water. Then 40 milliliters of the composition must be mixed with 1 liter of syrup.
3. Tincture of wormwood. To do this, you need to take 75 grams of pharmacy grass and mix with 500 milliliters of alcohol or vodka. Insist for a week, then strain. Then take half a large spoon and add to 1 liter of top dressing.

Prevention

To avoid the development of nosematosis, it is recommended to follow these rules:

1. Keep exceptionally strong and hardy families of bees in apiaries.
2. Before using worker bees, queens and brood, check them for the presence of the pathogen.
3. Conduct regular disinfection of hives.
4. Choose the right place to install the hives.
5. Create favorable conditions for wintering.

Nosema disease is a dangerous disease that can lead to the death of bees. To cope with the pathology, you can use medication and folk remedies.

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