36 BULLETIN 780, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGKICULTURE. 



PUTREFACTION AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. 



In Table XVI are stunmarized experiments in which the putrefac- 

 tive processes took place at room temperature. 



Table XVI. — Resistance of Nosema apis to putrefaction at room temperature. 



Date of inoculation. 



Period of 

 putrefac- 

 tion. 



Results of inoculation. 



July 28, 1915. 

 July 21, 1915. 

 July 28, 1915. 

 Sept. 29, 1914 

 July 1, 1915.. 

 Aug. 20, 1914. 



Days. 

 12 

 18 

 25 

 34 

 40 

 52 



Nosema infection produced. 

 No infection produced. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



From Table XVI it is seen that Nosema apis at room temperature 

 resisted the putrefactive processes for about two weeks. ' As the 

 room temperature varies it is to be expected that the time required 

 for the destruction of the parasite wiU vary also. 



PUTREFACTION AT OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE. 



The following table summarizes experiments that indicate the 

 period Nosema apis resists putrefaction at outdoor temperature: 



Table XVII. — Resistance of Nosema apis to putrefaction at outdoor temperature. 



Date of inoculation. 



Period of 

 putrefac- 

 tion. 



Results of inoculation. 



July 26, 1916. 

 July 27, 1916. 

 July 28, 1916. 

 July 29, 1916. 

 Aug. 31, 1916 

 Sept. 2, 1916. 

 Sept. 6, 1916. 

 Aug. 26, 1916 

 Sept. 2, 1916. 



Days. 



Nosema Infection produced. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 



In the experiments recorded in Table XVTI it will be observed that 

 Nosemxi apis was not destroyed in the presence of putrefactive changes 

 at outdoor temperature in 22 days. 



At refrigerator temperature the parasite has resisted putrefaction 

 for more than three months. 



The foregoing experiments relative to the effect of putrefactive 

 processes on Nosema apis show that the parasite naay be destroyed as 

 a result of putrefaction. They show also that the temperature of the 

 suspension is a factor in determining the period of resistance. Further- 

 more, it is seen that the germ resists the destructive processes accom- 

 panying putrefaction longer than those accompanying fermentation. 



