13 



Acarine Disease 



CAUSE. 



Dr. Rennie's discovery that the disease is caused by 

 a parasite, " Tarsonemus Woodi," breeding in, and hvmg 

 at the expense of the tissue of the Respiratory system, 

 has disposed of many former theories. The parasite 

 remains in these organs, and until the worker is fully 

 grown, the disease does not usually become fatal. 



SYMPTOMS. 



Visible signs of disease are more usually confined to 

 the inactive period between late autumn and early spring. 

 In the adult worker's symptoms are crawling, inability 

 to fly, with distention of the abdomen, and at certain 

 times of the year a form of dysentery is prevalent. 

 Hence the necessity for helpful treatment in preparing 

 the bees to withstand the critical periods. 



An infected stock is sluggish, does little work and is 

 vicious when disturbed. The disease has an irritating 

 effect upon the workers. In winter a healthy stock is 

 quiescent, whereas infected bees are restless and form 

 no complete winter cluster, so that they gradually 

 diminish in numbers. 



During the active working months excessive crawling 

 and bees with their wings dislocated or " split " are less 

 frequently seen. 



