The Los Angeles Times has created a bit of a buzz with a recent report of a study that seems to link Nosema ceranae with Colony Collapse Disorder. Researchers emphasize, however, that study results were “highly preliminary”:

N. ceranae is “one of many pathogens” in the bees, said entomologist Diana Cox-Foster of Pennsylvania State University. “By itself, it is probably not the culprit … but it may be one of the key players.”

Cox-Foster was one of the organizers of a meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday and Tuesday where about 60 bee researchers gathered to discuss Colony Collapse Disorder.

“We still haven’t ruled out other factors, such as pesticides or inadequate food resources following a drought,” she said. “There are lots of stresses that these bees are experiencing,” and it may be a combination of factors that is responsible.

Nosema ceranae has been implicated in the high rates of colony collapse seen in some European countries, and the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) is monitoring its distribution in Canada.

Nosema ceranae came up in general discussions at the last meeting of the Central Beekeepers Allliance. As the Provincial Apiarist, Chris Maund, explained to the group, the parasite that we usually see is the more common Nosema apis. It is not yet known if Nosema ceranae is present among New Brunswick honeybee colonies.

Infection by Nosema spores will cause bee dysentery or nosematosis, where excessive diarrhoea (usually visible on hive parts and on snow in bee yards in early spring) leads to drying and death.

The recommended treatment is Fumagilin-B® in sugar syrup for the fall feeding. Several beekeepers in our area have reported that their bees didn’t want to take much feed, last fall, and wonder about the limited amount of medication that would have got to the colony as a result. Over the winter of 2007-2008, Nova Scotia bee researchers will be evaluating the effectiveness of Fumagilin as a treatment for Nosema.

Fletcher Colpitts, the Chief Apiary Inspector for New Brunswick, has been surveying beekeepers on overwintering losses and fall management practices. Samples of live bees are being collected from various parts of the province for Nosema ceranae tests, as well as other possible future testing, as part of that survey and CAPA’s monitoring program.

More information is expected to be available in early June.