18 DISEASES OF BEES 



continually tries to suck up fluids, but apparently without success. 

 The bee attempts to clean itself or its neighbours with its mouth- 

 parts. It dies with the mouth-parts widely extended. 



" Respiratory " movements of the post-abdomen are variable, 

 ceasing with loss of movement of wings and legs. The sting will 

 often function on the stimulus of pressure shortly after other 

 movements have apparently ceased. The post-abdomen is usually 

 abnormally distended by the contents of the alimentary canal. 

 The abnormal distention is usually due to : 



1. Pale watery contents of the rectum, 



2. Normal-looking but abnormal quantity of rectal contents, 



3. Rectal contents normal in volume but proventriculus greatly 

 distended with sugary solution. 



The thorax and post-abdomen are usually rather polished through 

 loss, of hair which has probably been rubbed off by the diseased 

 bees licking one another. The surface of the body may be coated 

 with a very delicate film of sticky substance which, I think, is 

 largely faecal in origin. This faecal matter seems to be passed out 

 in very small droplets. It forms a good stratum for bacteria, which 

 rnay easily contaminate smears of the blood of the bee. An 

 obnoxious smell, often described as " fishy " may be associated 

 with diseased bees. It may be due to secondary and tertiary amines 

 in tjie faeces and it may be the chief reason for the eviction of the 

 diseased bees by their healthy sisters. 



To sum up, the chief characters of the disease are : — 



1. Distended post-abdomen, 



2. Trembling of wings and legs, 



3. Distended mouth-parts and the bees die with them dis- 

 tended, 



4. Exceptional thirst, 



5. Loss of hair, 



6. Fishy smell, 



7. Inclusion bodies in cells of small intestine. 



Periods of Disease. — The disease may exterminate a stock 

 within a few weeks or months, but its course is affected by many 

 factors and the stock may recover by itself, or with the conscious aid 

 of the beekeeper. The individual bee seems to succumb to the 

 disease, which may be found during any month of the year, though 

 it is commonest during May- July. It may reappear after disappearing 

 for some months. 



Distribution in Great Britain. — Based on my records for the 

 last ten years and including about 140 cases, the disease occurs 

 throughout England and Wales and in Scotland at least as far 

 north as Aberdeen, but it is much scarcer in Scotland than in 

 England. 



