Bee Diseases and Enemies 



399 



the segmentation of the larva is clearly marked. By the 



time it has partially dried down and has become quite dark 



brown (coffee colored) the most typical characteristic of this 



disease manifests itself. 



If a match stick or 



tooth-pick is inserted 



into the decaying mass 



and withdrawn, the 



larval remains adhere to 



it and are drawn out 



in a thread (Fie;. 164) FlG - le4 - ~ The r P iness f American 



, . , foul brood. 



which sometimes ex- 

 tends for several inches before breaking. This ropi- 

 ness is the chief characteristic used by the beekeeper in di- 

 agnosing this disease. The larva continues to dry down 



FIG. 165. American foul brood comb, showing irregular patches of sunken 

 cappings and scales. The position of the comb indicates the best way 

 to view the scales. 



and gradually loses its ropiness until it finally becomes merely 

 a scale on the lower side wall and base of the cell (Fig. 163, e, 

 p, s). The scale formed by the dried-down larva adheres 

 tightly to the cell and can be removed with difficulty from 



