Testing the efficacy of three new alternative treatments for Nosema disease of honey bees in Tennessee

Testing the efficacy of three new alternative treatments for Nosema disease of honey bees in Tennessee

Summary

This project began too late in the year to begin experimentation in the fall. Honey bees undergo a period of inactivity in the winter. So some things necessary for experimentation, like taking brood to obtain newly emerged bees, could not be performed until weather warms. Instead I spent time perfecting experimental techniques I’ll be using.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The objective for this phase was to develop a familiarity with techniques to be used in the experiment and to develop relationships with other researchers working on other aspects of Nosema disease in honey bees.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Methods for fixing, dehydrating, embedding, and staining thin sections of honey bee gut tissue have been worked out. Although there are standard protocols for making and staining thin sections of tissues, all tissue is different and experimentation is required to achieve desired results.

Methods for caging, feeding, anesthetizing and inoculating honey bees have been devised. Techniques for removing spores from infected bees and adjusting the spore concentration have been worked out.

An incubator was built from a discarded stand-up freezer. Regulation of the temperature and humidity is necessary and purchasing a pre-built incubator was cost prohibitive.

I met with Leellen Solter of the University of Illinois and Tom Webster of Kentucky State University to discuss experimental technique and design.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

I think these preparations will make experimentation smooth, with few problems.

Collaborators: