TREATMENT OF BEE DISEASES. 



11 



the base of the cell (fig. 5, /, h), or a shapeless mass on the lower side 

 wall if the larva did not retain its normal position (fig. 5, n, o). 

 Very few scales ai-e black. The scales are not adhesive, but are easily 

 removed, and the bees carry out a great many in their efforts to clean 

 house. 



Decaying larvae which have died of this disease are usually not 

 ropy as in American foul brood, but a slight ropiness is sometimes 

 observed. There is usually little odor in European foul brood, but 

 sometimes a sour odor is present, which reminds one of yeast fer- 

 mentation. This disease attacks drone and queen larvae ^ almost as 

 quickly as those of the workers. 



Fig. 5. — European foul brood: a, j, h, normal sealed cells; 

 l>t Cj dj ej g, i, X, nij p, q, larvae affected by disease ; r, nar- 

 mal larva at age attacked by disease ; f, h, n, o, dried-down 

 larvie or scales. Three times natural size. (Original.) 



European foul brood is more destructive during the spring and 

 early summer than at other times, often entirely disappearing during 

 late summer and autumn, or during a heavy honey flow. Italian bees 

 seem to be better able to resist the ravages of this disease than any 

 other race. The disease at times spreads with startling rapidity and 

 is most destructive. Where it is prevalent a considerably larger per- 

 centage of colonies is affected than is usual for American foul brood. 

 This disease is very variable in its symptoms and other manifesta- 

 tions and is often a puzzle to the beekeeper. 



1 The tendency of this disease to attack queen larvae is a serious drawback in treat- 

 ment. Frequently the bees of a diseased colony attempt to supersede their queen, but 

 the larvte in the queen cells often die, leaving the colony hopelessly queenless. The 

 colony is thus depleted very rapidly. 

 442 



