I 



No. 94. 



ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.* 



April 4th, 1911. 



Dr. Henry Woodward, F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Scientific Meeting were confirmed. 



Dr. H. B. Faxtham, F.Z.S., and Miss Annie Porter, D.Sc, 

 exhibited some diseased bees and combs infected with a minute 

 pathogenic Protozoal parasite, apparently the same as Nosema 

 apis found by Zander and Doflein in diseased bees in Bavaria. 

 Microscopic preparations and drawings of the parasite, Nosema 

 apis, were also shown, as Avell as healthy bees and combs in 

 contrast. The material exhibited was obtained from Cambridge- 

 shire and Hertfordshire in March 1911. The infected combs 

 were brown in colour instead of the normal yellow, while the 

 infected bees suffered from a sort of dry dysentery which rapidly 

 proved fatal. The pathogenic agent of this dry dysentery, 

 Nosema apis, formed thousands of minute spores which fouled 

 the hive, while infection was probably spread to new hives by 

 hungry, weakly bees attempting to enter healthy hives. The 

 spores, about 2 to 3 /.i by 4 to 6 /.t, were the resistant and cross- 

 infective stages of the Protozoon. The parasite Nosema apis 

 was closely allied to that of pebrine, the silkworm disease due to 

 Nosema homhycis. The trophozoite and pansporoblast stages of 

 N, apis had been observed, as well as some spores with polar 

 filaments extruded. Like N. homhycis, the bee-parasite was 

 possibly capable of hereditary infection, as infected bee-larvae had 

 been found. The only certain destructive agent of the Micro- 

 sporidian spores was fire, and all infected bees and hives, ancl any 



* This Abstract is published by the Society at its oiEees, Zoological Gardens, 

 Eegenfs Park, N.W., on the Tuesday following the date of Meeting to which 

 it refers. It will be issued, along with the ' Proceedings,' free of extra charge, 

 to all Fellows who subscribe to the Publications ; but it may be obtained on the 

 day of publication at the price of Sixpence, or, if desired, sent post-free for 

 the sum of Six Shillings per annum, payable in advance. 



