148 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Feb. 23. 190S. 



of the larvae sinks and appears concave instead of being con- 

 verse or fiat, and it is often perforated witli a small hole 

 near the center. Often the appearance of this sunken cell 

 is the lirst indication of disease noticed by the bee-keeper. 

 The decomposed larvae gradually dry up and ultimately form 

 a dry black or deep brown crust at the bottom of the cell. 



The sunken and perforated cappings, the reduction of 

 the larvae to a tenacious brown mass, the characteristic odor 

 and stringy nature of the mass, and the dwindling of the 

 colony, are the most noticeable indications and result.? of 

 the disease. 



As thS disease advances, the offensive odor pervades the 

 hive, and when infection is spread over a great number of 

 brood-combs the smell may be noticed some distance away. 

 The bees become more and more despondent over their help- 

 less condition and ultimately succumb or in some cases 

 desert their hive. 



THE NEW YORK BEE DISEASE, OR BLACK BROOD. 



For a number of years past there has existed in the State 

 of New York a disease known to the bee-keepers there as 

 "Black Brood." It has also been called "New York Bee Dis- 

 ease," from the fact that it was first noticed in that State. 

 So far as is known it was reported first from Sloanville, 

 N. Y. The description given by the New York Bee-Inspec- 

 tor is as follows : 



"The young larvae have a yellowish speck upon the 

 body, about the size of a pinhead, while the older brood 

 stand out lengthwise in the cell, sharp at the ends, white, but 

 not capped over. This brood dies, and is either removed by 

 the bees or later flattens down in the cell and becomes a 

 cream-colored, and in a later stage, a coflfee-colored, mass. 

 Later in the season some brood that died in the cells which 

 had been capped over, becomes a rotten mass, a coffee-colored 

 rnatter about the consistency of heavy honey. A toothpick 

 dipped. into this and drawn out causes this matter to stretch 

 from half an inch to an inch, but does not break and iiy 

 back as quickly as in 'Foul Brood.' The smell is not very 

 bad, but in some cases it has a sour smell ; while in some 

 of the sealed, rotten, coflfee-colored brood, there is a kind of 

 rotten smell, but not like that of the old-time 'Foul Brood.' 

 Howard states with regard to this disease, that the brood is 

 usually attacked late in the larval life, and dies during pupa- 

 tion, or later when nearly mature and ready to come forth 

 through the chrysalis capping. Even after leaving the cell 

 the bees are so feeble that they fall from the combs helpless. 

 Most of the brood die after sealing. When the larvae show 

 the first signs of this disease there appears a brownish spot 

 upon the body about the size of a pinhead. The larvae may 

 yet receive nourishment for a day or two, but as the fermenta- 

 tion increases the brownish spot enlarges. The larvae dies, 

 and stands out swollen and sharp at the ends. In time the 

 brood becomes dark and rotten, and these rotten masses, in 

 time, break down and settle to the lower side of the cells as 

 a watery, syrupy, granular liquid not like the sticky-ropy, or 

 glue-like semi-fluid substance of 'Foul Brood.' It does not 

 adhere to the cell-walls like that of 'Foul Brood,' and has not 

 the characteristic foul odor which attracts carrion flies, but 

 a sour, rotten-apple smell. The cap is disturbed from with- 

 out, sometimes uncapped and the cell-contents removed by 

 the bees." 



It will be seen from these accounts that whilst agree- 

 ing in some particulars there are points of difference between 

 the two descriptions given of this disease, and probably if a 

 bacteriological examination of the diseased larvae had been 

 made by Mr. N. D. West, the New York State bee-inspector, 

 the organism which produces "Foul Brood" might have been 

 found. 



Howard, in connection with this disease, described an 

 organism which he considered to be the causal agent of 

 "Black Brood." He gave the name of Bacillus millii to it, 

 from its resemblance to millet-seed. The B. millii is a spindle- 

 shaped organism which forms spores, and, according to How- 

 ard's drawings, forms two spores in each cell, a rather 

 remarkable occurrence, for in most bacteria, as a rule, only 

 one spore is found in a single cell. No description is given 

 of the germination of these spores, nor the cultural features 

 of this organism, so that except from its peculiar shape and 

 its ability to form two spores it would be a rather difficult 

 matter to identify this organism. 



Howard claims to have produced the disease by feeding 

 bees with syrups containing B. millii. 



This disease has also been the subject of an investiga- 

 tion by Moore and White, of the New York Veterinary 

 College, Cornell University. These investigators have ex- 



amined a number of specimens sent, to them during the sea- 

 son, and which were labelled as "Black Brood." The ten 

 specimens of black brood contained a bacillus which sug- 

 gested by its constant presence that possibly it was the cause 

 of the trouble. It was thought first that the bacillus so 

 constantly associated with the black brood was the bacillus 

 described by Howard as B. millii; but a more extended study 

 of this organism showed that it resembled B. alvei, the cause 

 of foul brood. A very careful investigation of this organ- 

 ism from the specimens of black brood confirmed the identity 

 of the species from the diflferent sources, and the only con- 

 clusion they came to was that the prevailing bee-disease in 

 the State of New York was similar to, if not identical with, 

 the foul brood of other States, Canada and Europe. 



From this evidence there seems to be some doubt as to 

 whether black brood is a new disease, caused by a new or 

 partly-described organism, or whether it is merely a disease 

 closely allied, if not identical, with foul brood, but oc- 

 casional! y showing appearances which are different from the 

 typical appearance of foul brood. Further investigation will 

 be needed before this question can be properly settled. 



PICKLED BROOD. 



Pickled Brood is said to attack the larvae about the 

 time of pupation, and the appearance of the larvae is similar 

 to those that are infected with black brood, except that the 

 brown spot is not present and no decomposition from putre- 

 factive germs takes place in pickled brood. The cappings 

 are usually undisturbed and the decayed brown masses do not 

 adhere to the cell-walls. According to Howard, the infection 

 in pickled brood is in bad pollen, and new pollen always 

 causes it to disappear. 



The cause of this disease is said to be a fungus {Aspergil- 

 lus Pollinis). Moore and White, who examined five speci- 

 mens of pickled brood, report no fungi present, but various 

 micro-organisms were found, none of which, however, were 

 specific. 



CHILLED BROOD. 



The cause of the death of the larva2 from this calamity is 

 cold, as the name correctly indicates. It generally occurs 

 when, after warm weather, which has induced the bees to 

 deposit brood freely, a sudden change takes place, or very 

 cold nights set in again^ The brood in the center combs 

 and where the bees cannot cover them sufficiently generally 

 suffer most. The larvae may be killed during all stages of 

 their development, but the capped brood rarely suffers to any 

 extent unless the change of temperature is much prolonged. 

 In cases of chilled brood the larva turn gray, afterwards 

 the color darkens and in the final stages of decomposition 

 it becomes black. No ropiness develops and the putrid mass 

 is more or less watery, and its smell is said to resemble stag- 

 nant water. No relation exists between chilled and foul 

 brood although many writers have mistaken the one for the 

 other or have stated that chilled brood turns to foul brood. 

 Schirach, as long ago as 1769, clearly distinguished between 

 the two. In fact, he said that chilled brood is no disease at 

 all. 



"Chilled brood" is caused by putrefactive bacteria which 

 attack the larvae after death. In foul brood and other in- 

 fectious diseases, the micro-organisms attack the living brood 

 and cause their death. 



STARVED BROOD. 



Occasionally instances of the starving of brood have been 

 noticed. This occurrence probably can be explained by an 

 abundant honey-flow, having induced the bees to encourage a 

 large brood deposit, when after a severe extracting of honey, 

 the bees were suddenly checked in the gathering of food 

 for some time through bad weather. The brood do not die 

 suddenly but become emaciated and dry up, rather than 

 putrefy. This aflfection is of rare occurrence, but it is curious 

 and interesting to note that Virgil in his Georgic on the 

 husbandry of bees mentions starvation and the cure for it. 

 The lines are as follows : 



When sickness reigns, (for they as well as we 

 Feel all the effects of frail mortality), 



By certain marks the new disease is seen. 

 Their color changes and their looks are thin; 

 Their funeral rites are formed and every bee 

 With grief attends the sad solemnity; 

 The few diseased survivors hang before 

 Their sickly cells and droop about the door, 

 Or slowly in their hives their limbs unfold. 

 Shrunk up with hunger and benumbed with cold. 



Now lay fresh honey near their empty rooms, 

 In troughs of hollow reeds whilst frying gums 



