A two-day intensive course for beekeepers covering the field and laboratory diagnosis of diseases of adult honeybees.
- Overview of honeybee anatomy, including respiratory and digestive systems
- The causative organisms of Nosema, Acarine, Amoeba, and virus diseases,
- including their life cycle and spread
- Differentiating between Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae
- The site of infection and nature of the damage caused by each of the adult bee diseases
- Appropriate treatments
- Discussion of dysentery and its relationship with adult bee diseases
- Field diagnosis techniques for Nosema, Acarine, and virus diseases
- Taking, storing, and posting adult bee samples for disease diagnosis
- The set-up and use of dissecting microscopes
- Elemental dissection of honey bee digestive and respiratory organs
- Laboratory diagnosis of Acarine using dissecting microscope
- The set-up and use of compound microscopes
- The preparation and staining of samples on microscope slides
- Laboratory diagnosis of Nosema using compound microscope
The Short Courses are aimed at those beekeepers with some experience of the craft; they are not aimed at novices. We can provide guidance to applicants as to the appropriateness of our Short Courses to their stage of beekeeping. We do ask that students respect this policy. Students are welcome to apply on a first come, first served basis.
The NDB Short Courses can provide valuable discussion, learning, and hands-on experience for those planning to take the BBKA Modules and Assessments above Basic level.