the cell, but is usually curled up in the bottom. During this process 

 of transformation from larva to scale, the breathing tubes of the bee 

 become prominent, forming white demarcations which give the larva 

 a segmented appearance. This segmented appearance is distinctive 

 of European Foul Brood. 



Treatment of European Foul Brood 



Beekeepers seldom encounter this disease if their bees are 

 strong and are Italians.. Italian bees seem to be more resistant than 

 the common black bee because they are better housekeepers. How- 

 ever, they are not immune. If they should become diseased, dequeen 

 for a period of ten days and at the end of that period introduce a 

 new queen. 



American Foul Brood 



This disease is caused by a spore forming bacterium called 

 Bacillus larvae. The germ is carried in the honey or any material 

 with which it may come in contact, and is spread by robbing or by 

 careless beekeepers, who leave any such contaminated material ex- 

 posed. As the germ is spore bearing, it is very resistant and hard 

 to combat. Combs have been kept forty years and still carry the dis- 

 ease germs. Only 50% of the germs are killed after being boiled for 

 ten minutes. They are unharmed by such strong chemicals as cor- 

 rosive sublimate or carbolic acid. This being the case, it behooves 

 every beekeeper to be extremely careful in handling this disease and 

 to see that no honey, combs or other material which 'have become 

 contaminated are placed where the bees have access to them. 



American Foul Brood attacks the larvae about two days before 

 the cells are capped over and they generally die after the cells are 

 capped. The larva melts down and changes from a healthy color to 

 a yellow and then a dark brown, finally resulting in a black scale 

 which lies full length of the cell. While this transformation is taking 

 place (usually about two days), the larva becomes a sticky mass which 

 may be stretched out by means of a toothpick. This is known as the 

 rope test. This rope may be stretched to about three inches before 

 breaking and when it parts, it snaps back into the cell. This snap- 

 ping characteristic distinguishes the rope of the American from that 

 produced in European Foul Brood by the Bacillus alvei. The rope 

 caused by the Bacillus alvei may be stretched out, but instead of snap- 



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