99 



was opened, and the quilts were found in a sodden condition owing to a defec- 

 tive roof. The bees, however, were in good condition with plenty of stores. 



It has already been mentioned that "crawlers" were observed on two 

 occasions in July in front of the hive occupied by the iirst swarm. From 

 that date until the beginning of September there were no definite symptoms. 

 August, like July, was mostly wet, and the Italians with their usual improvi- 

 dence had converted practically the whole of their stores into brood. From 

 4th September onward this stock, however, now showed undoubted signs of 

 the disease. The first half of this month was uniformly fine, with a great 

 deal of sunshine, and on every occasion the alighting board and the grass in 

 front was covered with numbers of " crawling " bees. Some of these were 

 fairly active and could perform short flights but not sustained ones. Those 

 which left the board were, as far as we could see, unable to return to the hive 

 and crawled about, sometimes as far as twelve yards at least from the hive, 

 ultimately dying on the ground. Those near the hive tended to form small 

 clusters as the day advanced. The alighting board was always cleared in the 

 course of the afternoon. All this is of course typical of Isle of Wight disease. 

 Further, the internal appearance was that characteristic of this disease, although 

 all our microscopical examinations failed to reveal the presence of Nosema. 

 The appearance within the hive during these days was practically normal, 

 poUen was being carried in, and there were no indications that the disease 

 was making rapid progress^ From 4th September sugar syrup was supplied 

 to all the stocks, and this was freely appropriated by the bees and stored. 



The question naturally arises here, Had this outbreak any connection with 

 the proximity of the infected hive or the fact that this swarm came from it ? 

 In view of the prosperity of the parent stock which had continuously occupied 

 the hive for four months, and the length of time, viz. three months, since the 

 swarm constituting this stock left the hive, it does not seem likely. But we 

 must admit the possibility of infection having been transferred and remaining 

 latent until conditions favourable for its development within the bees had 

 arisen. 



No further " crawling " symptoms have been observed since the beginning 

 of October. On 20th October, a large lot of Welsh bees (driven, queenless) 

 was added to this stock. It is probable that these killed the queen, for on 

 1st November several dead yellow queens were found on the floor of the hive, 

 and there were queen cells on one of the combs. No free virgin queen was 

 observed, and another queen was caged over the stock. This queen was found 

 on the alighting board a few days later. This stock, therefore, has a virgin 

 queen (grand-daughter of the original English queen). 



