134 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



by Mr. Bocock, revealed abundant young stages of Nosema 

 apis. This colony and others under observation in Hampshire 

 County have been under the supervision of a single apiarist, 

 and each colony was headed by a queen procured from the 

 same source at a distance. Some of these colonies did not 

 recover; usually, however, from the lack of proper and prompt 

 handling. 



It was Mr. Bocock's final conclusion that paralysis, as known 

 in the United States, differs from the Isle of Wight disease as 

 experienced in England, although some of the symptoms are 

 comparatively the same. It may be further concluded, for the 

 present at least, that bee paralysis is not dangerously infec- 

 tious or contagious, and that in some instances requeening will 

 be found remedial. 



Unusual Adult Mortality. — About the last of May, shortly 

 after Mr. Bocock arrived,^ he commenced to point out adult 

 bees which he called " creepers," — abnormal in their behavior. 

 These bees were often shiny, suggestive of the characteristics 

 applied by beekeepers to "robber bees," which are usually 

 thought to be old bees with frayed wings. The "creepers," 

 however, were not entirely "old bees," but rather adult bees 

 of all ages. These "creepers" may be characterized as having 

 lost their power of flight; tossed into the air they sail down 

 or drop heavily to the ground, not as a healthy, heavily laden 

 bee who can direct her course and ease herself as she alights. 

 They are often otherwise active, and have been described as 

 "jumpers," typifying their continual effort to get somewhere 

 by actively lurching forward at irregular intervals. Sometimes 

 they creep to the top of a grass blade and tumble off; again, 

 in short grass they may be seen "streaking" along, tumbling, 

 rolling over and even taking short flights of a foot or so. 

 Closer examination reveals one or both pairs of the wings un- 

 hooked, resulting in a crossing of the wings, a distortion. 



These "sick bees" are laden with feces in many instances, 

 "malodorous" and liquid, which they have difficulty in voiding. 

 This may cause an abnormal appearance of the abdomen, a dis- 

 tention, perhaps causing the anterior of the abdomen to hang 

 downward or even drag. 



1 May 26. 



