DIAGNOSIS OF BEE DISEASES. 3 



4. Have you fed honey from other sources than your own apiary? Give source 

 if known. 



5. Is the diseased brood mostly capped or is it mostly uncapped? 



6. What is the color of the larvse (grubs) soon after death? 



7. Later, what is the color of the decaying larvse? 



8. Are the dead larval remains ropy? 



9. Do you notice any disagreeable odor in the hive? 



10. Does there seem to be an unusual number of queenless colonies in the 

 apiary? 



11. What disease do you suspect? 



12. Give location of the apiary from which sample was taken by town (or 

 township) and county. 



While a diagnosis sometimes can be made from larvae which have 

 been removed from their cells, and sent without the comb, such mate- 

 rial is not satisfactory. It is far better to examine the infected larvae 

 in the comb in which they die. The diagnosis of bee diseases should 

 not be based upon the examination of honey alone. > ^ 



EXAMINATION OF THE SAMPLES. 



In diagnosis both gross and microscopic examinations are made of 

 the suspected material. 



GEOSS EXAMINATION. 



The following points are to be taken into consideration : Character 

 of the caps ; regularity of the brood ; proportion of affected brood ; 

 position of diseased larvae within the cell ; age, color, consistency, and 

 odor of the affected brood ; and kind of larvae affected, whether queen, 

 drone, or worker brood. These factors will be taken up in detail 

 as each brood disease is considered separately. 



In the gross examination of the comb it should be held in such 

 a manner that a good lighting of the interior of the cells is secured. 

 This is especially important in examining for scales. The best 

 method of examining suspected brood is to hold the comb in a ver- 

 tical position and about level with the eyes; then, by gradually in- 

 clining the top of the comb toward the observer, a point is reached 

 at which the greatest amount of light is thrown upon the floor of the 

 cells. This brings out the scales with great prominence and permits 

 of their close scrutiny within the cells. In examining the affected 

 brood for consistency and adherence to the cell walls in the scale 

 stage, a small pair of curved forceps is convenient. 



The gross examination of the adult bees will be considered under 

 ITosema disease. 



In routine diagnostic work unstained water mounts have been 

 found very satisfactory in searching for spores, and stained prepara- 

 tions are made for the vegetative forms. Carbol f uchsin is a suitable 

 stain to use. 



