SF 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 671 



Contribution from tlie Bureau of Entomology 

 L. O. HOWARD, Chief 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER. 



June 21, 1918 



THE DIAGNOSIS OF BEE DISEASES BY 

 ^n^ABORATORY METHODS. 



By AsTHim H. McOb ay, 



ApicuUural Assistant, 



and 



G. F. White, ^ 



Expert Engaged in the Investigation of Bee Dj,seq,seg.. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Already some of the States have established laboratories for the 

 diagnosis and investigation of the diseases of bees. The number of 

 State laboratories where a rapid and accurate diagnosis of suspected 

 material can be made will no doubt increase in the future in pro- 

 portion as State laws for bee-disease inspection and control are insti- 

 tuted and perfected. Inspectors realize that there will be always 

 some suspected brood and many conditions among adult bees which 

 can not be diagnosed in the field, but which will require laboratory 

 methods for diagnosis. In addition to the demands made by in- 

 ■^pectors for the examination of suspected material, there will be 

 numerous independent requests from beekeepers. 



During the past several years the writers have examined a large 

 nifmber of specimens of suspected brood and bees sent to the Bureau 

 of Entomology, and have developed and perfected methods and 

 technique in the diagnosis of the known diseases of bees which, it is 

 believed, will prove valuable to others. It is the aim of this paper 

 to present these methods of diagnosis for the benefit of those who 

 may engage in similar work. 



47164°— Bui! 671—18 1 



mi3 



