Bee Diseases and Enemies 



399 



the segmentation of the larva is clearly marked. By the 

 time it has partially dried down and has become quite dark 

 brown (coffee colored) the most typical characteristic of this 

 disease manifests itself. 

 If a match stick or 

 tooth-pick is inserted 

 into the decaying mass 

 and withdrawn, the 

 larval remains adhere to 

 it and are drawn out 

 in a thread (Fig. 164), 

 which sometimes ex- 

 tends for several inches before breaking. This ropi- 

 ness is the chief characteristic used by the beekeeper in di- 

 agnosing this disease. The larva continues to dry down 



Fig. 164. — The ropiness of American 

 foul brood. 



Fig. 165. — American foul brood comb, showing irregular patches of sunken 

 cappings and scales. The position of the comb indicates the best way 

 to view the scales. 



and gradually loses its ropiness until it finally becomes merely 

 a scale on the lower side wall and base of the cell (Fig. 163, e, 

 p, s). The scale formed by the dried-down larva adheres 

 tightly to the cell and can be removed with difficulty from 



