DISEASES OF BEES. 



134 



DISEASES OF BEES. 



To keep it out of a lawn, the lawn-mower 

 )iight to be sharp and close-cutting, and, in 

 uldition,a heavy roller should be used quite 

 frequently. In any case one has to do this 

 to get a line lawn, even when dandelions 

 ire not present. 



DAISY. See AsTKHS. 



DISEASES OF BEES. A few years 

 igo it was considered that bees were freer 

 from disease than perhaps any other class of 

 uiimated nature, for the reason that indi- 

 \adual members of the colonies were so con- 

 stantly giving way to the younger ones. 

 But this has been shown to be, to a great 

 extent, a mistake ; for apparently there are 

 iit least three or four distinct diseases with 

 rt'iiich the bee-keeper has to contend; and it 

 is well for the beginner to have an idea, at 

 least, of what they are like ; for the time to 

 cure a disease of a contagious character is 

 to take it at the start, or, better still, take 

 precautionary measures such as will prevent 

 its making even a heqimiinq. 



HOW TO AVOID DISEASES. 



Contagious diseases spread very rapidly 

 among bees, just as they are inclined to 

 make rapid lieadway in crowded centers of 

 tlie human family. Unfortunately, bees are 

 disposed to rob from each other during a 

 dearth of honey ; and if the germs of disease 

 or infection reside in the honey they may be 

 scattered over the entire apiary in a few 

 days. An infected colony is naturally weak- 

 ened and discouraged, and as a result the 

 bees do not make tlie defense that they 

 would under normal conditions. During a 

 dearth of honey the healthy bees all over the 

 yard are quite disposed to rob the weak or 

 sick ones, so that the infection is scattered 

 right and left. 



One of the best precautions against dis- 

 ease is good food, and keeping all colonies 

 strong. A healthy human being is much 

 more able to resist the germs of infection 

 tlian one who is "all run down.'' A person, 

 for instance, is not likely to come down with 

 typhoid unless his system is greatly reduced. 

 Then it is that the typhoid germs, which 

 may lie ever present, take liold and begin 

 their insidious work. 



Another wise precaution is to keep all 

 tools and clothing, and every thing that has 

 been in contact with a diseased colony, away 

 from the healthy ones. If one does not know 

 wliat the disease is he should be on the safe 

 side and proceed as if the sick colony were 

 infected with the worst infection known to 

 bee culture. 



TWO CLASSES OF DISEASES. 



The diseases with which the bee-keeper 

 has to contend may be divided into two 

 classes — those that affiect the mature flying 

 bees, and those that attack the brood. 



Among the diseases that attack the ma- 

 ture bees may be mentioned "spring dwin- 

 dling.'' This, perhaps, should hardly be con- 

 sidered a disease, but it is a malady with 

 which we have to deal. For particulars re- 

 garding it, see Wintering. Still another 

 trouble is dysentery. This in some cases 

 may be a germinal disease ; and in most 

 cases assumes the nature of an ordinary 

 diarrhea. See Dysentery. The only dis- 

 ease of anv account now remaining that 

 affects adult bees is— 



BEE-rAliALYSIS. 



This is a disease that is much more prev- 

 alent and virulent in warm than in cold cli- 

 mates. Almost every apiarist in the North 

 has noticed at times perha})S one or two 

 colonies in his apiary that would show bees 

 affected with it. Yet it seldom spreads or 

 makes any great trouble; but, unfortunately, 

 this is not true in some parts of the South 

 and West. In the South it is known to 

 affect whole apiaries, and seems to be infec- 

 tious. Unless a cure is effected in some 

 way it will do almost as much damage as 

 foul brood itself. 



SYMPTOMS. 



In the early stages an occasional bee will 

 be found to be running from the entrance, 

 with the abdomen greatly swollen, and in 

 other respects the bee has a black, greasy 

 appearance. While these sick bees may l)e 

 scattered through the hive, they will sooner 

 or later work their way toward the entrance, 

 evidently desiring to rid the colony of their 

 miserable presence. The other bees also 

 seem to regard them as no longer necessary 

 to the future prosperity of the colony. In 

 fact, they will tug and pull at them about as 

 they would at a dead bee until they succeed 

 in getting them out in the grass, where the 

 poor bees seem willing to go to die alone. 



Another symptom is, that the bees often 

 show a shaking or trembling motion. In 

 the earlier stages, this peculiarity does not 

 appear; but later on it manifests itself very 

 perceptibly. 



treatment and curb. 



In some cases destroying the queen of the 

 infected colony, and introducing another 

 from a healthy stock, effects a cure. This 

 would seem to indicate that paralysis is con- 

 stitutional, coming from tlic queen : but in 



