ILLIInOIS state BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION 



163 



or skeleton, showing the rings or seg- 

 ments. 



"American Foul Brood (bacillus lar- 

 vae; is certainly a close second to 

 that just described. Its characteris- 

 tics are quite distinct from the former 

 disease, viz. : Fewer of the larvae die 

 before the cells are capped, hence 

 there are many more perforated and 

 sunken caps in this disease. 



The dead larvae are at first of a light 

 chocolate color, but gradually turn to 

 a very dark brown, forming a thin 

 scale on the lower side of the cell, 

 which is very tenacious and seldom 

 removed by the bees. 



Before the dead larvae dry out they 

 consist of a viscous or ropy fluid 

 which may be drawn out of the cell 

 two or three inches without breaking. 



There is also a rank odor present 

 in the hivq at this stage of the dis- 

 ease. I really dislike the term "Glue 

 pot odor" as applied to this disease, 

 and I think it an insult to the glue 

 manufacturer. It seems to me to be 

 somewhat out of date, as in this age 

 of refined and prepared glues, most 

 bee-keepers would probably be more 

 unfamiliar with the crude ill-smelling 

 product than with the odor of the dis- 

 ease itself. 



Next in order is what is known as 

 "Pickled Brood." This is a peculiar 

 disease of the larvae which causes 

 death at about the time of capping of 

 same, sometimes just before. 



At this time they are of a light 

 brown color, and have a distended, 

 dropsical appearance. The skin is 

 rather tough and filled with a watery 

 fluid. 



The larvae usually lie on their backs 

 and lengthwise of the cells, both ends 

 sharply pointed, sometimes having 

 black heads. Occasionally they appear 

 in a different form, viz.: they axe flat- 

 tened, and lie against the lower side of 

 the cell, extending nearly the full 

 length of same, ' and with black and 

 ragged edges. 



The disease looks quite formidable, 

 and it is not surprising that it is 

 some times mistaken for "Foul Brood." 

 There is little, if any, odor present. 



Palsy, or paralysis, is a disease of 



the adult bees only, and is usually not 



^ very serious in the northern states. 



^^-j?5ften only a few scattering colonies 



^-^ in an apiary will be affected by it. 



The diseased bees present a shiny 



or greasy appearance, as most of the 

 hair on the thorax has disappeared, 

 having probably been removed by 

 other bees in biting and teasing them. 



Their abdomens are often greatly 

 distended. 



They also often shake and stagger 

 about, finally leaving the hive, either 

 of their own accord, or through expul- 

 sion by the healthy workers of the col- 

 ony. They drop at the hive entrance, 

 sometimes by hundreds, some crawl- 

 ing about over the ground until they 

 finally disappear. 



Mr. Williams — I would like to ask 

 Mr. "Wright one question, and that is 

 in regard to the season of the prev- 

 alence of these diseases, if either one 

 of them would be worse in the spring 

 or fall than the other? 



Mr. Wright — Yes. We find Euro- 

 pean Foul Brood to be much more prev- 

 alent in the spring. As soon as they 

 commence breeding rapidly the dis- 

 ease shows up in the apiaries. After 

 a good fiow it disappears greatly un- 

 less it is very strongly seated in the 

 apiary. I have a sample of European 

 Foul Brood with me that was taken 

 from a hive about a week ago. 



Mr. Holterman — Does it seem to 

 spread more in the spring than later 

 in the season? 



Mr. Wright — Yes. 



Mr. Holterman — Can you give us 

 any reason for that? 



Mr. Wright— Robbing is much more 

 prevalent in the spring than in the 

 fall. 



Mr. Holterman — The extent of the 

 disease is not reduced later on in the 

 season in the individual colony, but it 

 is a matter of spreading. 



Mr. Wright — Yes, in the individual 

 colony. 



Mr. Holterman — Then that could 

 not be attributed to robbing very well. 



Mr. Brown — ^I would like to ask Mr. 

 Wright if Mr. Alexander's treatment 

 of foul brood has been adopted as the 

 standard? 



Mr. Wright — No, sir; Bee Inspectors 

 have not adopted it and do not recom- 

 mend it. 



Mr. A. I. Root — The gentleman has 

 brought in what I would judge was a 

 sample of American Foul Brood and 

 handed it ^to Mr. Taylor. 



Mr. Byers — Did I understand you to 

 say that the odor of European Foul 



