TREATMENT OF BEE DISEASES. 



9 



keeper. The larva gradually sinks down in the cell and becomes 

 darker in color (fig. 2, /i, m), and the posterior end lies against the 

 bottom of the cell. Frequently the segmentation of the larva is 

 clearly marked. By the time it has partially dried down and has 

 became quite dark 

 brown (coffee col- 

 ored) the most 

 typical character- 

 istic of this disease 

 manifests itself. 

 If a match stick 

 or tooth-pick is in- 

 serted into the de- 

 caying mass and 

 ^vithdrawn the larval remains adhere to it and are drawn out in a 

 thread (fig. 3), which sometimes extends for several inches before 

 breaking. This ropiness is the chief characteristic used by the bee- 

 keejjer in diagnosing this disease. The larva continues to dry down 

 and gradually loses its ropiness until it finally becomes merely a 



Fig. 3. — The ropiness of American foul brood. (Original.) 



Pig. 4. — American foui-brood comb, showing irregular patches of sunken cappings and scales. 

 The position of the comb indicates the best way to view the scales. (Original.) 



scale on the lower side wall and base of the cell (fig. 2, e, p, s). The 

 scale formed by the dried-down larva adheres tightly to the cell and 

 can be removed with difficulty from the cell wall. The scales can 

 best be observed when the comb is held with the top inclined toward 

 the observer so that a bright light strikes the lower si'de wall (fig. 4). 

 83568°— Bull. 442—11 2 



