Our Club’s Microscope

EDBA Club Microscope News:
I hope this mild winter was healthy for your hives and your families.
First of all I would like Crystal Samborski – your new treasurer – for donating a huge box of microscope “goodies” which will be used by the club for many years to come- slides and sample bottles and cover slips to name just a few. Thank-you Crystal for your generous donation!
I hope this mild winter was healthy for your hives and your families. I will be bringing the club microscope to the March EDBA Meeting at Beemaid if anyone would like to look at hive samples of bees.
This is a good time to examine bees from a deadout hive or from the normal dead bee die out in front of the hive.
To view nosema spores it is not necessary to put the bees in alcohol if the bees were frozen before bringing the sample to the meeting. However if the bees have to be kept for a short time at room temperature ,add isopropyl alcohol to your sample.  Bring a sample of 5 bees to get an idea if your hives were infected with nosema.
Bring your bees in a sealable baggie or bottle labelled with your name and email address and hive identification. If time runs out I will add alcohol to the bees and examine them later and send you a photo.
Looking forward to seeing you at Beemaid,
Sara Willans