BEE DISEASES 161 



Apiarists are well aware of honey-tins turning black 

 when in contact with certain honey. This is especially 

 true of that from the Narrow leaved Bitter-Pea commonly 

 called "Wild Hop." After tasting the leaves of this 

 plant one is of the opinion that it has a large per- 

 centage of tannin. Of the form of the disease termed 

 "Dysentery," due to the presence of certain growths in 

 the bowels of the insects, little is known. 



"D.T." 



Like another disease that has recently occupied the 

 attention of scientists, considerable doubt exists as to 

 the specific cause. G-rarapian bee-keepers have experi- 

 enced great loss by what is known as "D.T." or 

 "disappearing trick"; no investigation has taken place 

 simply because no bees were available for examination. 

 A prominent apiarist, who unfortunately lost some 

 hundreds of colonies in five or six days, described it thus: 

 "The bees were working on a flow from "Red box" in 

 early spring, and the line of flight was over our residence. 

 One morning we missed the usual humming, and 

 although the day was warm and clear, no bees were 

 heard. We visited the apiary and while some bees left 

 the hives, none returned. We opened hive after hive, to. 

 find combs full of honey and a ball of bees (about a 

 handful) with the queen. These would afterwards swarm 

 out and cluster promiscuously about the yard. The whole 

 thing was so sudden and unexpected that we were 

 helpless in the matter. ' ' The author has had some rather 

 extensive experiences with bees dwindling away in the 

 spring, but a visitation such as the above is not among 

 them. One can only deplore the lack of information 

 regarding reiaedial action. 



SPRING DWINDLING. 



This is another serious matter for the Australasian 

 apiarist. No m^atter how well some colonies enter the 

 winter they dwindle down to mere handfuls in the 

 spring. About August a few dead bees will be observed 

 at the entrance; the number increases, after rain 



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