Jan. 10. 1912 



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THE ISLE-OF-WIGHT BEE DISEASE. 



A Serious Disease of Mature Bees tliat is Doing 



Mucin Damage in Parts of Europe; an Entire 



Apiary of 160 Colonies Destroyed. 



BY D. M. MACDONAX,D. 



All other bee-diseases sink into insignifi- 

 cance in their ravages when corajiared with 

 this insidious and malignant trouble. They 

 can be fought against and overcome. We 

 know their true origin, the nature of their 

 development, and, from patent signs, can 

 diagnose their presence, while preventives 

 can be applied to check their spread or ex- 

 terminate them. Like the jiestilence, how- 

 ever, this new disease walketh in darkness, 

 its conception and incubation come like a 

 thief in the night. Its origin is uncertain. 



In 1904 reports emanated from the Isle of 

 Wight regarding a mysterious malady af- 

 flicting bees, virulent to an extreme, and 

 deadly in its destructiveness. In fact, bee- 

 keeping was quite wiped out in this lovely 

 island by the season of 1908. Worse still, 

 that year reports reached our journal, show- 

 ing that distinct symptoms were manifest- 

 ing themselves in various parts of Hamp- 

 shire. That and the following season saw 

 whole apiaries affected — several so seriously 

 that they were exterminated. Outside the 

 infected area bee-keepers were inclined to 

 minimize matters at first; but soon alarm 

 spread when it was realized that, as a con- 

 sequence of the dissemination of swarms 

 from the infected area, the disease had spread 

 in 1909, not only to the southern and mid- 

 land counties but also to the north of Eng- 

 land and even to Scotland. Even then the 

 deadly nature of the malady was not fully 

 realized, and combs from infected hives were 

 freely inserted into colonies hitherto im- 

 mune, while swarms and driven bees were 

 hived on the works whereon bees had died. 

 Consequently the disease spread. The in- 

 fection, too, i)assed on from hive to hive. 

 The fell destructiveness may be guessed 

 when it is stated that in one season an api- 

 ary of 100 colonies had every hive empty. 

 Another, the other day, was reported to have 

 84 out of 80 all dead. Thousands of such 

 si)ecimens could be given. Some claim 

 that treating the bees by shaking, as in a 

 case of foul brood, and comiielling them to 

 work out new comVjs, will cure. Others go 

 to the other extreme and maintain that 

 healthy bees may be run on the diseased 

 combs and continue healthy. Practical ex- 

 ])erience during the last three years con- 

 vinces the writer that both claims are falla- 

 cious. Time and again both plans have 

 been tried, only to end ultimately in failure. 

 All recommendations have been tried, but 

 none have proved fully elTective. 



The best advice that can be given in the 

 light of our i)resent knowledge is to de- 

 stroy every thing movable in the hive; singe 



theinteriorelTectively,andthoiougiily disin- 

 fect every thing. Dig the ground all around 

 and bury or burn every bee seen lying about. 

 Even then a new start should not be made 

 on the same ground if it is possible to secure 

 a fresh site. 



As a sample of the rapidly destructive 

 power of the disease, stocks as powerful as 

 they could be in early .June, this year went 

 down so rapidly that, instead of filling ten 

 frames and three supers, they deserted all 

 but the lower crate a month after infection, 

 in spite of splendid breeding; and at first it 

 appeared that every egg laid came to ma- 

 turity, for it must be remembered that, un- 

 like foul brood, this disease does not affect 

 the larva pupa nor even the perfect imago. 

 It seems evident, indeed, that it is only 

 when bees go out as foragers that the work- 

 ers are infected. Breeding all .July, during 

 the delightful summer weather experienced, 

 w^ent on apace, and for a time hopes ran high 

 that the colonies might work out their own 

 salvation; but these hopes were dashed to 

 the ground when, in September, on return 

 from holidays all were found dead or dying. 

 The miserable plight of the remnant was 

 deplorable. Worse still, neighboring hives 

 all around showed the well-known symp- 

 toms, and now most of those left are dwin- 

 dling rapidly in spite of all attempts at cure. 

 Earlier destruction would have been a kind- 

 ness! 



The symptoms at first are indistinct, so 

 that the scourge has a deadly hold before 

 any very clear signs are patent. A marked 

 decrease in the number of bees occupying 

 surjolus chambers shows something is amiss; 

 fewer bees go out foraging; even the bees 

 which are apparently healthy show a dis- 

 position to loiter about, and exhibit a disin- 

 clination to go to the fields. Therefore large 

 numbers are found lolling about on the 

 flight-board — so much so that on a fine day 

 it is black with them, as if they were in need 

 of more room overhead. An examination 

 of the top super, however, shows it quite de- 

 serted, owing to lessening numbers. 



On close inspection an odd bee at first is 

 seen flying aimlessly about. It or others 

 may be seen crawling on the ground near 

 the hive, making inelTcctual attempts to 

 fly. Looking more closely the wings are 

 seen to make futile efforts to buoy the in- 

 sect up into the air. On examining these 

 bees it will be found that, geufially, one of 

 the small wings (almost invariably the left) 

 may be seen sticking out at an angle above 

 the front wing in an unnatural way, and 

 looking as if it were dislocated. These bees 

 then crawl about aimlessly, dragging their 

 legs in a crippled way. They congregate in 

 small clusters, numbering from half a dozen 

 to a score, as if seeking mutual warmth. 

 Many of them make feeble attempts to 

 climb u]) any vegetation growing near, but 

 after a time they fall down to die. AN'hile 

 crawling about, the abdomen is heavily de- 



