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Participant questions

Answers for research programme participants. General questions about the devices and the app are in the FAQ.

Do I need to do the sugar roll in every examination?

Yes, always. The Varroa sugar roll is mandatory in every scheduled examination (Examination 1, 2 and 3), for every monitored colony. You run it every time, regardless of the time of season, sensor readings or the absence of visible Varroa symptoms. Each examination covers the full set of both procedures: the Varroa sugar roll and Nosema/Vairimorpha microscopy. Details: Lab procedures.

Can you freeze bee samples for Nosema examinations?

Yes. Freezing bees is accepted only for Nosema examinations.

  • Each frozen sample must be clearly and easily identified with the hive it comes from.
  • Storage temperature: at least −8 °C.
  • Bee samples can be stored in the freezer for approximately 3-5 months before the examination or shipping to the lab.
  • Samples must not be thawed and frozen again.

Details: Nosema/Vairimorpha microscopy, How to register a sample in the app.

Can I send live bees to Lublin via Poczta Polska?

Yes. Live bee samples should be sent via Poczta Polska to the laboratory in Lublin (University of Life Sciences in Lublin, ul. Doświadczalna 54, 20-280 Lublin), Monday to Thursday (estimated cost PLN 20-30). Bees must be shipped alive, in transport cages that allow air access, with a piece of sugar candy and the test code from the Apisense app written on each cage. Shipments of live bees via Poczta Polska may only be sent by apiary owners located in Poland. Details: Protocol 2: live bees.