8 



TEEATMEXT OF BEE DISEASES. 



both diseases. These names were in no way intended to designate 

 geographical distribution, since both diseases did exist and do now 

 exist in both Europe and America, but were chosen primarily because 

 they were convenient and easily remembered names. Their only 

 significance is in indicating where the diseases were first seriously 

 investigated. It was particularly desirable to change the name of 

 the disease now known as European foul brood, since " black brood "" 

 entirely fails to be descriptive and is misleading. 



SYMPTOMS. 



The presence of a particular disease in a colony of bees can be 

 ascertained most reliably by a bacteriological examination, since the 

 symptoms are somewhat variable. It is possible, however, to describe 

 the usual manifestations of the diseases, and the usual differences, so 

 that the beekeeper can in most cases tell which disease is present. 



American Foul Brood. 



American foul brood is frequently called simply " foul brood." 

 It usually shows itself in the larva just about the time that the larva 

 fills the cell and after it has ceased feeding and has begun pupation. 



Fig. 2. — American foul brood : o, 5, J, normal sealed cells ; 

 c. ;. sunken cappings, showing perforations ; g^ sunken 

 oappin::: not perforated; 7i. I, m, n, g, r, larvae affected by 

 disease ; e, i, p, /<, scales formed from dried-down larvse ; 

 (?, o, pupfe affected by disease. Three times natural size. 

 (Orisrinal.) 



At this time it is sealed over in the comb (fig. 2. a, h, /). The first 

 indication of the infection is a slight brownish discoloration and 

 the loss of the well-rounded appearance of the normal larva (fig. 

 2. I). At this stage the disease is not usuallj' recognized by the bee- 



442 



