8 



EUROPEAN FOUL BROOD. 



Until 1907 the only infectious brood disease known to exist in Ontario was the 

 one already described. But another then made its appearance. It is called 

 European Foul Brood (Sometimes "Black Brood"). 



European Foul Brood has destroyed the apiaries in great areas of different, 

 states in the Republic to the south of us. It is now known to be rampant in at 

 least nine counties of Ontario. In one way it is much more to be dreaded than 

 American Foul Brood, because it runs its course and destroys an apiary much more 

 rapidly, and because the method of spread is not fully understood. 



As was stated above, nothing but the introduction of Italian queens by the 

 beekeepers concerned will check its spread. 



Pig. 4. — European Foul Brood: a, j, k, normal sealed cells; 6, c, d, e, g, i I, m, p, g, 

 larvae affected by disease; /, h, n, o. dried-down larvae or scales. Three times 

 natural size. (U.S. Dept. Ag. Par. Bui. 442.) 



The best description of this disease which has been published is found in U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture Farmers' Bulletin 442, " The Treatment of Bee Dis- 

 eases," by E. F. Phillips, Ph.D. It is as follows : " European foul hrood was 

 formerly called Talack brood,' or 'iSTew York bee disease.' The name TDlack brood' was 

 a poor one, for the color of the dead brood is rarely black, or even very dark brown. 

 European foul brood usually attacks the larva at an earlier stage of its development 

 than American foul brood, and while it is still curled up at the base of the cell 

 (Fig . 4, r). A small percentage of larvae dies after capping, but sometimes quite 

 young larvae are attacked (Fig. 4, e, m). Sunken and perforated cappings are 

 sometimes observed, just as in American foul brood (Fig. 3, c, g, j). The earliest 

 indication of the disease is a slight yellow or gray discoloration and uneasy move- 

 ment of the larva in the cell. The larva loses its well-rounded, opaque appearance 

 and becomes slightly translucent, so that the tracheae may become prominent 

 (Fig. 4, &), giving the larva a clearly segmented appearance. The larva is usually 



