| April Checklist
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This is a critical time for the hive and they may not have the forage they require at this time. Sugar water at 1/1, candy, pollen or pollen substitute should all be considered |
Clear the frames(s) of bees as it is much easier to inspect the brood for disease. Have a 'poke' at anything that looks abnormal. A more experienced beekeeper will help you recognise the signs of brood disease. Some are easy to detect like chalk brood (loose white 'mummies' in the cells and on the floor of the hive). American Foulbrood (AFB) is a bit more difficult but we should all try to learn how to recognise this (cappings become discoloured, sunken and damp and if a matchstick is poked into the cell the dead larva will be drawn like a rope). Do not forget that AFB is notifiable and if there is the slightest suspicion that you have it contact a better qualified beekeeper or your Appointed Bee Inspector for a definite diagnosis. Look at the sealed brood and see if you can find cappings with little holes in them. This is often a sign of parasitic mite syndrome and can mean that the varroa levels are getting too high. If you see a capping in this state poke a cocktail stick or a matchstick into the cell. |
Finally check the state of the frames. Old dark frames should be discarded as soon as possible; they probably will contain disease pathogens. Similarly, old misshapen frames, or those with large holes or clogged with solid honey and old pollen, which are rarely used by the bees, should be discarded. The brood chamber should be full of frames that the queen can lay in and with sufficient space to store pollen and honey. As you remove the frames look for stunted bees and those with deformed wings. These are bees damaged by viruses vectored by varroa mites and this is another indication of high varroa levels. |
The last part of your disease inspection is to collect about thirty bees and have them diagnosed for nosema and acarine. You should select old, foraging bees as these diseases are easier to detect in older bees. Foraging bees returning to the hive tend to be more prominent on the frame nearest the entrance. A simple technique for collecting a sample of bees is to run a half open matchbox across the frame. The sample should be placed into the freezer for 2 to 4 hours to kill the bees. Although not everyone has or can even check for disease with a microscope This is where a more experienced beekeeper can help or even take the microscopy course yourself. It is usually advertised around September/October time and is well worth taking |