10 



are exceptions to the rule. The disease works very rapidly and a 

 colony may become extinct in ten days. Very often a colony dies be- 

 tween the inspections made by the beekeeper in his regular apiary 

 management. If the disease is not severe it may seriously reduce a 

 colony and sometimes there is a tendency to diagnose the condition as 

 physiological rather than pathological. If the disease is not serious, 

 the colony sometimes survives and may build up slowly with the com- 

 ing of favorable weather in the late spring. European foulbrood is 

 especially severe among the black and hybrid bees. Formerly the 

 Italian race of bees was found to be more resistant and certain strains 

 were evidently more resistant than others. At the present time ap- 

 parently all strains of Italian bees are really resistant. Weak colonies 

 need special attention, especially the entrance should be reduced so 

 that it will be difficult for robb:ng to get started. 



Treatment: Inasmuch as this disease seems to be more prevalent 

 with the black and hybrid bees, the first step in eliminating European 

 foulbrood is to Italianize all colonies by introducing a queen of a good 

 strain. Wherever colonics are found to be struggling in an effort to rid 

 themselves of the disease, it is advisable to requeen. If the requeen- 

 ing is done in the spring it is well to give a thin feed to further stim- 

 ulate brood rearing by the new queen. Colonies which have been re- 

 queened need special attention and it may be advisable to add a frame 

 of sealed brood from a healthy colony. Since there is not the likeli- 

 hood of transmitting the disease by the interchange of equipment, it 

 is much easier to handle this disease than American foulbrood. Fur- 

 thermore, the bees will readily clean out the scales, and cells are ap- 

 parently made clean enough by the bees so that succeeding larva will 

 rot contract the disease. European foulbrood is no longer feared by 

 beekeepers and its chief control measure is "better beekeeping". This 

 term includes the items of introducing better stock and of giving bet- 

 ter management in the form of protection and ample stores. Frequent 



examinations are 

 also a part of bet- 

 t e r management 

 and enable the bee- 

 keeper to detect 

 the presence of dis- 

 ease before it gets 

 a start. 



SACBROOD 

 Early History: 



Sacbrood has been 

 known for a good 

 many years, but 

 this name has been 

 applied to the dis- 

 ease in only recent 

 years. It was con- 

 fused with a condi- 

 tion called "pick- 

 led" ^'•"1d and was 

 not easily differen- 

 tiated from what is 

 now known as 

 "starved" brood, 

 and "chilled" 

 Fig. 5. Tongue adhering- to roof of cell. brood. 



