Compounds Tested for Control of Nosema in Honey Bees12

Abstract

Twenty-four compounds were fed in sugar sirup to caged adult Apis mellifera L. to determine the effect of these agents on the development of Nosema apis Zander in the bees. The chemicals were fed to the bees before the spores, and then again for 14 days afterwards. Fumagillin (4-(1,2-epoxy-l,5-dimethyl-4-hexenyl)-5-methoxy-1 oxaspiro[2.5]=oct-6-yl 2,4,6,8-decatetraendioate) the recommended control for the disease, gave reasonably good control. Paromomycin, an antibiotic substance produced by Streptomyces rimosus forma paromomycinus, might merit further sudy. None of the other materials studied controlled or markedly reduced the degree of disease. Mortality of bees 15-21 days after each treatment showed that hygromycin, an antibiotic substance produced by S. hygroscopicus, and the higher doses of both anthelmycin, an antibiotic substance produced by S. longissimus, and one form of nitrofurazone (Furacin®) (5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone) were so toxic to the bees that nosema could not develop. Most compounds did not cause excessive mortality in 15-21 days of feeding.