BEE DISEASES 



159 



without treatment and is thus quite distinct from the 

 "ropy" tj'-pe, which, once a colony is infected never 

 leaves it, unless treated as described, until all the bees 

 are dead. With "black brood" the affected larvae are 

 usually in the ends of the cells (whether sealed or 

 unsealed) and are dirty grey to black in colour, also the 

 juices of the unsealed brood are never "ropy." The 

 dead matter will not stretch out like the first mentioned, 

 and the offensive odour is not pronounced. 



An experienced apiarist, quite sure of his case, would 

 effect a cure by re-queening, biit the novice had better 

 not take any chances ; treat for ' ' ropy ' ' foul brood to be 

 on the safe side. To get a good idea of the general 

 appearance of "black brood" take a few unsealed larvae 

 and leave them out of the hive three or four days. The 

 dead larvae will then closely resemble those killed by 

 "black brood." 



Brood destroyed by extreme cold and sometimes by 

 heat was at one time counfounded with disease, and 

 referred to as "pickled brood." The brood was simply 

 dead, not from disease, however. One may as truthfully 

 refer to the dead brood found in a strong colony moved 

 during hot weather as "diseased." After treating for 

 ' ' ropy foul brood ' ' there are sometimes a few dead larvae 

 found in the new cells; the misshapen grubs lie in the 

 ends like a drop of milk. The bees clean them out and 

 after the first hatching this trouble disappears. 



DYSENTERY. 



This disease is occasionally due to the presence of 

 certain fungoid growths, i.e., yeast cells, in the bowels. 

 There is another less virulent form, easily overcome by 

 the bees themselves when- the weather is bright enough 

 for the insects to have a cleansing flight. This latter 

 form is nothing more or less than overloading of the 

 bowels. "When bad weather prevents bees goiiig out the 

 bowels are overtaxed — for the insects void the faeces 

 only when on the wing. The symptoms are easily recog- 

 nised, but the most apparent sign is the spotting and 



