BEES. 43 
inspector will destroy their bees or because they feel that it is a 
disgrace to have disease in the apiary. There is no disgrace in having 
colonies become diseased; the discredit is in not treating them 
promptly. The inspectors are usually, if not universally, good 
practical bee keepers who from a wide experience are able to tell 
what should be done in individual cases to give the best results 
with the least cost in material and labor. They do not destroy col- 
onies needlessly, and, in fact, they all advocate and teach treatment. 
The brood diseases are frequently introduced into a locality by the 
shipping in of diseased colonies; or, more often, the bees get honey 
from infected colonies which is fed to them, or which they rob, from 
discarded honey cans. It is decidedly dangerous to purchase honey 
on the market, with no knowledge of its source, to be used in feeding 
bees. Many outbreaks of disease can be traced to this practice 
(see ‘‘Feeding,”’ p. 26). It is difficult to prevent bees from getting 
contaminated honey accidentally. If colonies are purchased, great 
care should be taken that there is no disease present. Whenever 
possible, colonies should be purchased near at home, unless dis- 
ease is already present in the neighborhood. 
There are other diseased conditions of the brood, known to bee 
keepers as “‘pickle brood,” but these can usually be distinguished 
from the two diseases previously mentioned. The so-called ‘‘ pickle 
brood” is not contagious and no treatment is necessary. Bees also 
suffer from ‘‘dysentery,”’ which is discussed in the earlier part of this 
bulletin, and from the so-called ‘‘paralysis,’”’ a disease of adult bees. 
No treatment for the latter disease can as yet be recommended as 
reliable. The sprinkling of powdered sulphur on the top bars of 
frames or at the entrance is sometimes claimed to be effective, but 
under what circumstances it is beneficial is unknown. 
A number of insects, birds, and mammals must be classed as ene- 
mies of bees, but of these the two wax moths, and ants, are the only 
ones of importance. There are two species of moth, the larger wax 
moth (Galleria mellonella L.), and the lesser wax moth ( Achrova grisella 
Fab.), the larve of which destroy combs by burrowing through 
them.' Reports are frequently received in the department that the 
larvee of these moths (usually the larger species) are destroying colo- 
nies of bees. It may be stated positively that moths do not destroy 
strong, healthy colonies in good hives, and if it is supposed that they 
are causing damage the bee keeper should carefully study his colonies 
to see what other trouble has weakened them enough for the moths 
to enter. Queenlessness, lack of stores, or some such trouble may be 
the condition favorable to the entrance of the pest, but a careful 
examination should be made of the brood to see whether there is any 
1 Bee keepers refer to theseinsects as ‘‘moths,’’ ‘wax moths,’’ ‘‘bee moths,’’ ‘‘millers,’’ ‘‘wax worms,”’ 
‘honey moths,”’ “‘moth worms,’ ‘“‘moth millers,’ and ‘‘ grubs.’’ The last six terms are not correct. 
447 
