PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT 

 BEE DISEASE. 



By Joseph Tinsley, B.B.K.A. (First Class). 



The Isle of Wight Bee Disease is a highly contagious and 

 deadly malady which affects bees and probably also wasps. 

 This disease, which has long been known on the Continent of 

 Europe, first made its appearance in Britain in 1904 ; in this 

 year an outbreak was reported in the Isle of Wight, hence 

 the name "Isle of Wight" Bee Disease. It spread with 

 alarming rapidity throughout the country. Few districts or 

 hives escaped its devastating effects, and many beekeepers 

 suffered serious loss. By the year 1912 the stocks of bees in 

 England were reduced to a mere fraction of their original 

 proportions. In some seasons the disease would appear to 

 have been more fatal and to have spread more quickly than 

 in others. 



By the year 1913 the Isle of Wight disease was generally 

 established in Scotland ; from the southern counties, where it 

 first appeared, the epidemic quickly spread to the northern 

 reaches, leaving death and destruction in its train. In many 

 districts not a single colony escaped, but in certain isolated 

 cases, as in the Kilmaurs neighbourhood, the native bees 

 failed to contract the disease. Such bees appear to possess a 

 natural immunity, and consequently are of great value as 

 foundation stock. 



Cause of the Disease. 



The first scientific report relating to the etiology of this 

 disease was prepared by Mr. A. D. Imms, and was published 

 in the Journal of the Board of Agriculture for June, 1907. 

 The second, written by Dr. Maiden, appeared in the Journal 

 for February, 1909. The third, by Drs. Graham Smith, 



