DISEASES OF THE HONEY BEE AND THEIR CONTROL 



BY 



A. C. Gould, State Apiary Inspector 



Introduction 



The diseases of bees are widely spread throughout practically 

 the entire state; few sections have escaped the ravages of one or 

 more of these. Diseased colonies and equipment have been shipped 

 over the state. Also, diseased colonies become weakened and are 

 robbed out, and disease is thus spread from community to com- 

 munity. As a result, foulbrood has become a menace not only to 

 the beekeeper but also to the fruit grower, who suffers from a lack 

 of bees for pollinization purposes. 



There is keen competition in the field of beekeeping, as in other 

 branches of agriculture. The margin of profit is small, and the 

 siiccess of commercial beekeeping in many localities, and the future 

 prosperity and progress of the bee industry, are dependent in a 

 large measure upon the degree of control over bee diseases. 



The beekeepers of the state, realizing the seriousness of the 

 disease menace to the beekeeping industry, and feeling the need 

 of protection, succeeded in securing the enactment of the Bee 

 Disease Law, which provides for the inspection of bees for the 

 purpose of discovering and eradicating contagious or communicable 

 diseases of bees. The Department of Agriculture and Markets, 

 in carrying out the provisions of this law, has sought to aid the 

 beekeepers in their fight against foulbrood by instructing them in 

 the diagnosis of diseases and in assisting them in discovering and 

 eradicating them. Owing to a lack of adequate funds, the inspec- 

 tion work has been somewhat limited, but disease has been kept 

 well under control, and in many localities a decided reduction has 

 been made in the percentage of disease. However, the measure of 

 success in this work is largely dependent upon the cooperation 

 and help of the beekeepers. 



The ' beekeepers of the state suffer an annual loss of many 

 thousands of dollars as a direct result of the ravages of bee diseases, 

 of which American foulbrood is the most destructive. The loss in 

 honey crop, bees, and valuable equipment is great, but perhaps the 

 cost of the increased labor occasioned by the disease is almost as 

 great as the direct loss. 



Not only has the loss in bees, equipment and labor greatly 

 affected the beekeeping industry, but the discouragement of bee- 

 keepers, due to American foulbrood, has perhaps had an even more 

 depressing effect upon the industry. The most discouraging aspect 

 of the situation is the beekeeper's helplessness to guard against the 

 disease. He can do nothing to prevent its spread to his apiaries 

 when once it has gained a foothold in the locality. 



