ON ISLE OF WIGHT DISEASE IN HIVE BEES— ETIOLOGY. 747 



Although during the whole of this period crawling symptoms never were in 

 evidence and the bees appeared to be working normally, the numbers did not 

 increase, nor were stores accumulated. In the later part of July and August the 

 decline in numbers was rapid, and crawling developed towards the end. The stock 

 was robbed actively and became extinct towards the middle of September. The 

 apiary from which the stock was obtained remains clearr of the disease. 



No. 61. — On the 20th May a stock of Italian bees infected with Nosema apis 

 was obtained from Glassel. It built up rapidly in the course of the following weeks 

 and by the middle of July the bees were covering fifteen frames. 



On the 30th May four bees were taken entering the doorway ; these were active 

 and inclined to sting ; two of them were found infected with Tarsonemus and two 

 were clear. On 7th July thirty bees were taken and of these five were infected. 

 Again, on 14th July twenty bees were taken ; ten were infected with Tarsonemus 

 and ten were free. Up to this date there were no external signs of disease in the 

 stock. The season being poor there were no surplus stores, but, as already stated, the 

 stock was strong in bees. 



On 30th August thirty-four bees were examined and of these twenty-seven were 

 found infected, and about this date crawling amongst the bees was observed for the 

 first time. By this date the stock was reduced to about seven frames of bees, and 

 robbing by other bees was being persistently attempted. It eventually died out at 

 the end of September. 



No. A. Ch. — In the month of May a stock was obtained from an apiary in 

 Dyce, where there had been no disease for many years. It was a swarm of the 

 previous year, and after transference was isolated from other stocks. On 17th 

 July six bees taken from the stock, which appeared perfectly healthy, were all 

 found infected, but to a slight degree. The infection appeared to be recent. A 

 fortnight later crawling became evident in the stock, and six crawling bees 

 supplied were found to be all infected and more extensively than in the previous 

 sample. By the 1st September the stock had declined to about four frames of 

 bees. There' were no stores. Nine flying bees were taken ; these were all found 

 infected and having their tracheal tubes much blackened. The owner at this date 

 destroyed the bees. 



No. Glasgow, I. — On the 8th July a sample of thirty bees was taken from a 

 stock of Dutch bees obtained from West of Scotland College of Agriculture on 

 22nd March. The stock at the time the sample was taken appeared perfectly 

 healthy and was doing well. Of the thirty bees,.', three were found infected with 

 Tarsonemus. The stock swarmed, and the swarm for a time appeared strong and 

 healthy. At the beginning of August the parent stock covered eight frames, with 

 stores and brood on six. No loiterers or crawlers have been observed at either the 

 parent or swarm stocks. Thirty -five bees of the parent stock were examined at this 

 date, and of these three were found infected with Tarsonemus. 



