Usually the larvae are attacked at about the time of capping, and most 

 of the cells containing infected larvae are capped. As decay proceeds 

 these cappings become sunken and perforated, and, as the healthy 

 brood emerges, the comb shows the scattered cells containing larvae 

 which have died of disease, still capped. The most noticeable charac- 

 teristic of this infection is the fact that when a small stick is inserted 

 in a larva which has died of the disease, and slowly removed, the 

 broken-down tissues adhere to it and will often stretch out for several 

 inches before breaking. When the larva dries it forms a tightly 

 adhering scale of very dark brown color, which can best be observed 

 when the comb is held so that a bright light strikes the lower side 

 wall. Decaying larvae which have died of this disease have a very 

 characteristic odor which resembles a poor quality of glue. This 

 disease seldom attacks drone or queen larvae. It appears to be much 

 more virulent in the western part of the United States than in the 

 East. 



EUROPEAN FOUL BROOD. 



European foul brood (often called "black brood") is not nearly as 

 widespread in the United States as is American foul brood, but in cer- 

 tain parts of the country it has caused enormous losses. It is steadily 

 on the increase and is constantly being reported from new localities. 

 It is therefore desirable that bee keepers be on the watch for it. 



Adult bees in infected colonies are not very active, but do suc- 

 ceed in cleaning out some of the dried scales. This disease attacks 

 larvae earlier than does American foul brood, and a comparatively 

 small percentage of the diseased brood is ever capped. The diseased 

 larvae which are capped over have sunken and perforated cappings. 

 The larvae when first attacked show a small yellow spot on the body 

 near the head and move uneasily in the cell. When death occurs they 

 turn yellow, then brown, and finally almost black. Decaying larvae 

 which have died of this disease do not usually stretch out in a long 

 thread when a small stick is inserted and slowly removed. Occasion- 

 ally there is a very slight "ropiness," but this is never very marked. 

 The thoroughly dried larvae form irregular scales which are not strongly 

 adherent to the lower side wall of the cell. There is very little odor 

 from decaying larvae which have died from this disease, and when an 

 odor is noticeable it is not the "glue-pot" odor of the American foul 

 brood, but more nearly resembles that of soured dead brood. This 

 disease: attacks drone and queen larvae very soon after the colony is 

 infected. It is as a rule much more infectious than American foul 

 brood and spreads more rapidly. On the other hand, it sometimes 

 happens that the disease will disappear of its own accord, a thing which 

 the author never knew to occur in a genuine case of American foul 

 brood. European foul brood is most destructive during the spring and 

 early summer, often almost disappearing in late summer and autumn. 



[Cir. 791 



