BRUNEL MICROSCOPES LTD
Specialists in their Field
Brunel Microscopes has been pleased to support the BBKA in its ideals and philosophies for a number of years, and many will have visited our stand at Stoneleigh each year.
It is rare for societies and professional groups to get government to listen and react to their messages, and all credit must go to the BBKA for getting recognition where it counts for two very important facts.
1. The honeybee population is in trouble and needs help.
2. Without honeybees the infrastructure of the food chain collapses.
It was good to see recently that £10 million has been allocated by government for research into exactly what is wrong. Microscopes must play a part in the solution, being able to identify diseases and being an essential tool for the insemination process. These pages are designed to explain the specific role of microscopy in apiculture with links to our secure online shop should you wish to purchase any of our products. The needs and budgets of Societies vary considerably from those of the individual. Brunel Microscopes has many years experience in catering for both. There are four distinct areas for which microscopy has now become an essential tool.
n Disease identification and bee dissection
n Pollen identification
n Artificial insemination
n Education
Disease Identification
There are basically two types of microscope, those that are high power for looking at slide preparations at things that are microscopic (can magnify x40 up to x1000), and those that are low power stereomicroscopes (usually magnifying between x10 and x40 or so) and are used for looking at whole objects and are ideal for bee dissection. Unfortunately because of the laws of physics that govern light it is not possible to have a microscope that can do both functions. We are able to offer budget equipment at a realistic price for the individual and also more sophisticated instruments more suited to the needs of societies and education.
What diseases can be identified with a high power microscope?
Bee diseases are the result of either poor apiculture technique, bacteria, fungus, parasite infestation or virus infection.
Viruses (for example Sacbrood) cannot be seen with a light microscope.
Bacteria can be seen at magnifications of x1000. However there are only two physical shapes that bacteria can have, either ‘sausage’ shape - bacillus, or ‘ball’ shaped coccus. This applies to disease causing bacteria as well as the many normal strains, therefore using shape alone the strain of bacteria cannot be identified. This is really the area of professional laboratories which is why American and European Foul Brood - both caused by bacteria are notifiable diseases.
It is rare for societies and professional groups to get government to listen and react to their messages, and all credit must go to the BBKA for getting recognition where it counts for two very important facts.
1. The honeybee population is in trouble and needs help.
2. Without honeybees the infrastructure of the food chain collapses.
It was good to see recently that £10 million has been allocated by government for research into exactly what is wrong. Microscopes must play a part in the solution, being able to identify diseases and being an essential tool for the insemination process. These pages are designed to explain the specific role of microscopy in apiculture with links to our secure online shop should you wish to purchase any of our products. The needs and budgets of Societies vary considerably from those of the individual. Brunel Microscopes has many years experience in catering for both. There are four distinct areas for which microscopy has now become an essential tool.
n Disease identification and bee dissection
n Pollen identification
n Artificial insemination
n Education
Disease Identification
There are basically two types of microscope, those that are high power for looking at slide preparations at things that are microscopic (can magnify x40 up to x1000), and those that are low power stereomicroscopes (usually magnifying between x10 and x40 or so) and are used for looking at whole objects and are ideal for bee dissection. Unfortunately because of the laws of physics that govern light it is not possible to have a microscope that can do both functions. We are able to offer budget equipment at a realistic price for the individual and also more sophisticated instruments more suited to the needs of societies and education.
What diseases can be identified with a high power microscope?
Bee diseases are the result of either poor apiculture technique, bacteria, fungus, parasite infestation or virus infection.
Viruses (for example Sacbrood) cannot be seen with a light microscope.
Bacteria can be seen at magnifications of x1000. However there are only two physical shapes that bacteria can have, either ‘sausage’ shape -
Microscopes and honeybees
Fungus (Chalk and Stone Brood) is much easier to identify with a high power microscope and well within the abilities of the beginner.
Parasites (Varroa mite, Nosema, Acarine and Amoeba) are again easy to see with a microscope. The varroa mite can be seen with a low power stereomicroscope because of its relatively large size, and the trachea of the bee needs to be dissected out to make a slide for high power examination to identify acarine and the ventriculus for nosema
Dissected ventriculus
Nosema
Varroa mite
Varroa mite
Bee mite
Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination of the queen is now a well established technique with a number of insemination devices on the market. This is a two step process starting with the inversion of the drone to collect semen, then the careful insemination using the precision manipulation units that immobilise the queen and allows introduction of the semen.
This is a delicate and precise operation and it is essential to use a low power stereomicroscope, either one with a large area base to take the inseminator or a long arm version that allows the stereohead to be held above the machine.
This is a delicate and precise operation and it is essential to use a low power stereomicroscope, either one with a large area base to take the inseminator or a long arm version that allows the stereohead to be held above the machine.
Insemination devices
Immobilised queen
Education
Education and training has always been an important aspect of the work of societies, not only of beekeepers but also the general public. Brunel Microscopes has always been keen to support this important aspect of beekeeping societies.
There are a number of ways in which microscopy information can be shared with others, using CCTV, projection and shared viewing. We would be pleased to advise organisations by providing technical information in support of grant applications and providing specific recommendations to fit within budgets. Below is a hyperlink to our specialist Education and Microscopy Imaging websites that will give an indication of the many options available. However these are two areas that appear relatively complex to those without previous experience and we would be pleased to provide personalised advice.
Please telephone 01249 462655 for immediate attention or email us at mail@brunelmicroscopes.co.uk.
There are a number of ways in which microscopy information can be shared with others, using CCTV, projection and shared viewing. We would be pleased to advise organisations by providing technical information in support of grant applications and providing specific recommendations to fit within budgets. Below is a hyperlink to our specialist Education and Microscopy Imaging websites that will give an indication of the many options available. However these are two areas that appear relatively complex to those without previous experience and we would be pleased to provide personalised advice.
Please telephone 01249 462655 for immediate attention or email us at mail@brunelmicroscopes.co.uk.
