10 July, 1919.] Bee Paralysis. 435 



erected; and for small lots of sheep, both the bath and draining yards 

 might be made smaller. 



£ s. d. 

 4 19 



Material — 



18 bags cement, at 5s. 6d. 

 2,650 bricks, at 45s. per 1,000 . . 

 7 yards rubble, at 6s. . . 

 6 yards coarse gravel, at 6s. 

 4 yards sand, at 6s. . . . . ... 



Fencing — 



28 round posts, at 5s. each 

 50 split posts, at 70s. per 100 

 200 rails, at 120s. per 100 



Gates — 



13, including hinges and labour 



Labour — 



Bricklayer, 7 days, at 20s. . . 



Fencer, 17 days, at Os. and keep 



Two men assisting at times, say 

 Oarriage — 



Rail on bricks, &c. .. .. .. .. .. ..500 



Total . . . . . . f 75 16 



BEE PARALYSIS.* 



By F. R. Beuhne, Government Apiarist. 



Bee paralysis is a disease of tho adult bee, and probably a germ 

 disease. No germ, however, which can be considered tho cause has 

 up to the present been discovered. It is a contagious disease, but 

 infection takes place only by direct contact between affected and pre- 

 disposed bees. Infection is not carried by brood, combs, honey, or 

 pollen. In dealing with this trouble it is important that these factors 

 should be understood. The symptoms of bee paralysis vary at different 

 stages of the disease, and also with the age of the bees affected. The 

 first indication is sometimes the presence in the hive of a few shiny, 

 oily, and emaciated looking bees; at other times, the first sign is a 

 few bees with abnormally inflated abdomen. Their movements are 

 jerky, the legs extended sideways, the wings spread out and showing 

 a twitching movement at short intervals. In a short time the number 

 of bloated bees increases ; they may be seen leaving the hive and dyin<y 

 after crawling a short distance. When the hive is opened some of 

 them come on to the top of the frames and refuse to move when smoke 

 is blown in on them. During the early stages of the disease the sick 

 bees are generally being pulled about, and sometimes dragged out of 

 the hive by other bees. The oily appearance of some of the affected 

 bees is due to the hairs on their bodies having been pulled off, and 

 this is perhaps one of the ways in which infection is transferred from 

 bee to bee. When the disease reaches the final stage even newly- 

 hatched bees will become infected. They do, however, not show the 



♦ Paper read at Apiarists' Conference at Maryborough, June, 1919. 



