192 DISEASES OF BEES. 



they exclusively cover whole tracts of country, as 

 instanced above in the Jerseys." EvanSj'B.iL^. 95. 



TUMEFACTION OF THE ANTENNAE. 



The antennae, in this disorder, become swelled 

 at their extremities, which resemble the bud of a 

 flower ready to open, and they assume a yellow 

 colour, of which the forepart of the head shortly 

 partakes ; the bees becoming gradually languid 

 and dying, if they have not timely assistance. 

 This malady occurs about the month of May. 



PESTILENCE, orFAUx COUVAIN (as Schirach calls it). 



Pestilence has been reckoned among bee-mala- 

 dies, and attributed to the residence of dead 

 larvae in the cells, from a careless deposition of 

 ova by the queen, (the head of the grub not being 

 placed in a proper position for exclusion, when 

 that period has arrived,) it has also been ascribed 

 to cold, and to bad nursing, that is, feeding with 

 unwholesome food. 



TREATMENT. 



The remedies which have been found most 

 successful in all these maladies, excepting vertigo, 

 are cordials, namely wine and sugar. This circum- 

 stance, taken in conjunction with their occurring at 

 the spring of the year, tends to confirm my opinion 

 that the ailments of bees arise from hunger and 

 filth. 



