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American Foul Brood. 

 Cause. 



The cause of American foul brood is definitely known to 

 be a germ or bacterimn, Bacillus larvce White, which kills 

 the developing brood. 



Appearance. 



The brood is usually attacked about the time that the cells 

 are capped. The larvae (grubs) die, decay begins and the 

 cappings of the cells become sunken and perforated. A 

 comb in this condition presents a scattered and irregular 

 arrangement of the brood. The larva or grub when first 

 affected turns a light chocolate color, gradually darkens, 

 and in an advanced stage becomes the color of roasted coffee. 

 If a toothpick is inserted into a dead larva, and then slowly 

 removed, the decayed material often adheres and stretches 

 an inch or more before breaking. This is spoken of as 

 " ropiness." The decayed brood has a characteristic odor, 

 resembling a poor quality of glue, — the " glue-pot" odor. 

 Finally, the broken-down tissues, having sunken to the lower 

 walls of the cells, dry down into a characteristic mass some- 

 times called a "scale," which adheres closely to the cell. 

 These scales can be removed only with difficulty! ^^^ ^re 

 frequently diagnostic. Larval queens and drones, it has been 

 found, are seldom attacked. The disease, however, appar- 

 ently affects the activity and vigor of the adult workers. 



European Foul Brood. 

 European foul brood is the most disastrous and wide- 

 spread of bee diseases in Massachusetts, but is the most 

 difficult to diagnose from gross examination. 



Cause. 

 The cause of this disease has not yet been announced, 

 but it is believed to be a specific, bacterial organism. 



Appearance. 

 The larvae (grubs) are attacked at an earlier stage than is 

 the case in American foul brood, the majority dying before 

 they are sealed. When first affected the larva shows a 



