Control of Bee Diseases and Pests 



Bee diseases constitute one of the chief causes of the present day 

 inefficient production of honey. This indicates that beelteepers need 

 a better Itnowledge of the diseases and the means of reducing the loss 

 from them. There are two general classes of apiary diseases, those 

 of the adult bees, and those of the young or brood. At present the 

 brood diseases cause by far the greater portion of the loss in the 

 apiary so more attention must be given to them. Their diagnosis and 

 control have been carefully worked out and the practical application is 

 merely a matter of knowledge. 



BEOOD DISEASES 



AMERICAN FOULBROOD 



Origin and History: American foulbrood as a distinctive disease of 

 bees has been known for about 20 years. Prior to that time it was 

 confused with what is now known as European foulbrood, both being 

 included in the term foulbrood. It became evident that there were at 

 least two distinctive diseases since beekeepers were getting differ- 

 ent reactions to identical treatments under apparently the same con- 

 ditions. 



The term "American" foulbrood does not mean that this disease 

 originated in America, nor that its distribution is restricted to Amer- 

 ica. It is merely a term to indicate a definite disease and distinguish 

 it from the European foulbrood. Foreign records Indicate that this 

 disease has been prevalent thruout most beekeeping sections much 

 longer than it has in the United States. 



Distribution: American foulbrood is now known to occur quite 

 generally in every state in the Union. Its spread has been restricted 

 in some sections, but no extensive beekeeping region enjoys immun- 

 ity to this brood disease. In Iowa, it has been felt that In certain 

 restricted localities American foulbrood did not occur, but careful and 

 extensive inspect'ons indicate that the areas where foulbrood does not 

 exist are very small indeed. Some think that the disease is spread- 

 ing and increasing its distribution, but the fact that it has not been 

 recorded from a definite locality does not signify that it is not present. 

 It probably has not been discovered, but may be found at any time. 



Common Names: While American foulbrood is, in a way, a common 

 name, beekeepers often refer to this disease in a general way as 

 "black brood". This name certainly indicates the condition of the 

 dead larvae. In other areas it is referred to as "ropy brood," which 

 is another term describing a stage of the disease. With the gradual 

 disappearance of European foulbrood it has come to be a practice, 

 among beekeepers, to refer to American foulbrood simply by the term 

 "foul". Closely associated with this is the common term, "diseased 

 brood"- 



Transmission: American foulbrood is a germ disease, caused by a 

 specific organism known as Bacillus larvae. The disease is highly in- 

 fectious, so that the germs will readily produce the disease when in- 

 troduced into a healthy host. American foulbrood germs are exceed- 

 ingly minute and they travel unobserved by the human eye. The bac- 

 teria grow and develop in the bee larvae, but whenever they are 

 placed in honey, they immediately develop into the spore or seed 

 stage. This is important because it is considered that the sale of 

 honey may be one means of spreading the disease. 



