Chief Characteristics 



1. The larvae are attacked after being capped. 



2. The dead larvae lie flat on the lower side of the cell in a 

 uniform jjosition. 



3. There is a decided ropiness at certain stages. 

 Jr. The color is mahogany or coffee brown. 



5. Pupae are sometimes found with the tongue extended to the 

 roof of the cell. 



6. The scales adhere tenaciously to the cell-walls. 



Treatment 



There are two general methods of treatment, with various modi- 

 fications, which as a rule are recommended; namely, the burning 

 method and the shaking method. The shaking method can be 

 carried out successfully by a careful and experienced beekeeper, 

 but extreme care is required or the disease may be spread instead 

 of being eradicated. Bees loaded with infected honey may drift 

 into neighboring colonies during the shaking process and thus 

 infect these nearby colonies. There is also danger of diseased 

 honey being exposed or dropped on the ground where bees will 

 get at it. The burning method is generally recommended, espec- 

 ially where there are few diseased colonies, as it is much easier, 

 safer and in many cases much cheaper than the shaking method. 



In order to eliminate American foulbrood it is necessary to 

 destroy or remove the germs which cause the disease. These germs 

 are very resistant to disinfectants and will live for years. What- 

 ever method of treatment may be used it should always be borne 

 in mind that the germs may be present in the honey, the old combs, 

 and the old hive and other equipment used on the infected colony. 

 Therefore, in order to make the treatment effective all this material 

 must be destroyed or thoroughly disinfected, or kept where no bees 

 can gain access to it. 



Burning. Care must be exercised in burning, if it is to be 

 effective. The first thing to do is to kill the bees. This can best 

 be done by taking about a tablespoonful of Cyanogas (Calcium 

 cyanide) on a hive-tool or a slip of paper and inserting it into the 

 entrance of the hive. The bees will be dead in a few minutes. If 

 there are bees near the entrance, place a newspaper in front of 

 the hive to catch any dead ones that may fall to the ground. If 

 the hive is bee-tight, sulphur may be used to kill the bees. Close 

 the hive entrance, leaving an opening large enough to insert the 

 nozzle of the smoker. Then get a good fire going in the smoker, 

 put in a small handful of sulphur, insert the nozzle into the 

 entrance of the hive and force smoke in until the bees are all dead. 



Gasoline may also be used to kill the bees. Remove the hive- 

 cover and place a burlap sack over the top of the hive, being care- 

 ful to see that it fits down snugly. Close the entrance carefully. 

 Now pour about . a pint of gasoline over this sack, allowing it to 

 run down between the frames. Replace the cover and let the hive 



