The Heartland Bee Newsletter
December 2020 (3rd edition)
Of Note: Nosema
Nosema can refer to one of several fungal parasites that prey upon insects. Honey bees consume Nosema spores from the environment, primarily through hygienic behaviors and sharing food. Once in the gut, Nosema spores invade the cells there and compete for energy resources. Infected workers are hungry all the time, and consume more honey. Diarrhea or dysentery may be present. In severe cases, the queen may be neglected by her ravenous attendants.
However, we have no effective treatment against Nosema. Research shows that colonies handle high parasite loads very differently. In many cases, healthy hives actually have a higher presence of the fungus. As with most parasites, the most proven measure a beekeeper can take is to ensure their colonies are well fed. To help with ongoing research, join the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab mailing list.
