6 
Before shipment of nuclei a sample of the bees is 
examined under the microscope in order to ensure freedom 
from Acarine disease. The stocks can therefore be relied 
on as free from disease when delivered, and when rationally 
managed will remain free from infection. In the rare 
cases where infection is found in these strains it usually 
exists in the initial stages and can be eliminated by intensive 
brood production. In the case of Native bees this is 
generally impossible. 
Where required, all nuclei are guaranteed to remain 
free from Acarine disease within six months of delivery, 
provided the advised conditions of management are carried 
out. In the event of infection appearing in these cases, 
the nucleus will be replaced free of charge by another 
nucleus of the same grade and size as originally purchased. 
ACARINE DISEASE. 
Prior to the important discovery of Tarsonemus 
woodi by Dr. Rennie in 1920, the whole subject of Isle of 
Wight disease was involved in mystery: owing to lack of 
knowledge as to the cause of the complaint treatment was 
practically hopeless, and in the light of recent knowledge 
the methods formerly recommended for the alleviation of 
the complaint are shewn to be worthless. 
The disease is caused by the parasite breeding in and 
living at the expense of the tissues of the Respiratory 
system of the bee, and the cause is confined entirely to this 
portion of the bee’s anatomy. Medicinal treatment is 
therefore of no avail unless the drug can be introduced into 
these organs. Though attempts have been made to dis- 
cover a suitable fumigant, the results reported up to the 
present time are not promising, though it is probable that 
successful medicinal treatment will follow this course. 
Attempts to find immune varieties of bee have not 
been successful and there is no possibility of success in this 
direction. Experiments conducted in Ig21 have shewn 
that all the well-known strains can be infected with the 
disease, and that where conditions are favorable for the 
increase of the parasite within the colony, the disease will 
reach the same degree of severity with all strains. 
