30 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 408 



eased or it is not. The inspector seldom arrives at the moment 

 the first diseased cell appears. This method in no way excuses 

 box hives and the human lethargy and indifference that go with 

 them. It has simply proved expedient where it takes two minutes 

 to inspect a hive but two hours to burn it if orders to transfer are 

 not heeded. Needless to say the above technique is not effective on 

 bees in wash boilers, barrels, chicken brooders, dog houses, and 

 ice cream freezers though all are on record in the State. 



In those counties where inspection is reported for both 1941 

 and 1942 we have a partial measure of how effective the disease 

 control program has been. A review of the number of infected 

 apiaries (foci of infection) indicates that in most counties the num- 

 ber is being reduced. Noteworthy is the case of Sanders County 

 where in 1942 the disease was found in only three hives in one 

 apiary. It is possible that two years' inspection will achieve com- 

 plete eradication in this county. Other counties with larger areas 

 of beekeeping territory do not show such marked reductions. Of 

 the 608 inspections in Big Horn in 1941 all but three were in 

 commercial apiaries. In Yellowstone County the inspection of 

 new territory and of certain commercial apiaries together with 

 an unfortunate outbreak of disease from one focus of infection 

 combine to cover up what progress has been made. In Flathead, 

 Lake, Pondera, and Ravalli counties considerable territory not pre- 

 viously inspected was covered in 1942, yet definite decreases in 

 the incidence of disease and the number of foci are indicated. 



The disease conditions among the 33,500 commercially op- 

 erated bee colonies is another story since very few were inspected 

 by the State Apiarist. The annual loss is estimated at 5 per cent, 

 occurring as would be expected according to a contagious distri- 

 bution. Some operators have been absolutely free of disease for 

 years, most operators are sufficiently hampered to require several 

 regular inspections annually and about 5 per cent loss of profits. 

 Occasionally the incidence of disease rises to the loss of entire 

 commercial losses have been distinctly cut down and avoided. But 



In the counties where there are numerous amateur beekeepers 

 commercial losses have been distinctly cut down and avoided. But 

 in several other areas inspection has shown little progress in ward- 

 ing off these financial losses. The answer is that disease in a 

 neighboring beehive is only one of a number of factors involved; 

 others are the present labor shortage (making adequate inspection 

 and disease control difficult) , lack of equipment, vandalism, and 

 most important, the failure to practice positive swarm control 

 measures in years past. It is usually assumed the "wild" bees in 

 trees, rimrocks, and buildings very seldom have disease. Explana- 

 tions may vary, but high among them is that involving the presence 

 of the greater wax moth which quickly destroys the combs in a 

 dead hive. Montana has practically no wax moth. Coincident with 



