Samples required: up to 50 bees that have been dead less than 24 hours; partially decomposed bees are useless. Keep separate samples from hives in
different locations. OR a piece of brood comb about the size of a hand OR, for stingless bees, a whole nest if small, otherwise the size of a closed hana.
Packing samples;
a sample about
4
pack and send without delay, end meanwhile freeze at as low a temperaDO NOT send in an airtight container such as a ture as possible. plastic bag or tin box, or in envelopes unprotected against being Use match--boxes, or similer cardboard consquashed in the post. Do not put paper tissues inside them. tainers. Jabel the box(es) from each hive or nest clearly A, B, C and label the corresponding record to match the sample.
Record to be supplied with each sample: Send the following details with the sample, on a sheet of paper no% folded more than is necessary: ; Identification mark of the corresponding sample: A, B, C Date of collection Name and address of sender Location of colony, to within 4 km Symptoms: whole colony dead? colony weakened? adult bees died?
other symptoms? are neighbouring colonies/apieries equally affected? how far away are they? For Apis species: what other Apis species are in the locality? Number of colonies believed to be affected, out of total number of Conditions of colonies at last examination: date; strength, number of frames of brood, number of honey supers on hive; state of health For Meliponinae: other genera/species in the area, as far as is know (if samples of adult bees are sent, these will be identified) ...
Identification
and report: Within a few weexs, Dr. Delfinedo-Raker will write to the person providing each sample, identifying any mites found, and stating whether or not they are harmful to the bees. Othex useful information will be included if possible, and the sender will also receive details of the final report of the survey when published.
Address for sending: Dr. Mercedes Delfinado-Baker, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
"Source
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leaflets
Copies of the ten leaflets listed in the last Newsletter and in the enclosed list were sent out in June 1982, free of charge, to all the Institutions that have received copies of the Bibliography of Tropical Apiculture. Elsewhere copies of individual leaflets have been sent on request, free of charge, to addresses in developing countries, and IBRA still has some of the
leaflets for distribution. Will readers of tne Newsletter do anything they can to make these leaflets more widely known? Many people who have already received them have found thei most useful. Explain that they are available, free of
