12 



In Iowa where spring conditions are especially erratic, the bee- 

 keeper may find a condition in the brood nest which is a result of 

 chilling or desertion. A colony may be ready to build up and when 

 a cold spell occurs it is necessary to draw in the cluster so that some 

 of the brood is left to exposure. This brood dies and the beekeeper 

 may be led to feel that a disease is present in the hive and under 

 those conditions the situation will appear more serious than it really 

 is. It is necessary for the beekeeper to keep clearly in mind the 

 typical characteristics of American, European and Sacbrood. 



ADULT DISEASES 



The diseases of the adult bee have been considered as unimportant 

 to the beekeeper. There are times, however, when conditions develop 

 within the colony which are contusing and the cause of some little 

 loss. Now there is more need for the beekeeper to understand thoroly 

 adult bee diseases than was true formerly. 



DYSENTERY 



Dysentery is not a disease, but more properly a disorder, of adult 

 bees. It has been frequently referred to in beekeeping literature and 

 in a good many instances it has been confused with true diseases of 

 the adult bee. It is the result of an accumulation of undigested mat- 

 ter which accumulates when the bee is not able to fly. Therefore, 

 this condition is most often observed in bees which have been con- 

 fined in the cellar for the winter, or in cellar wintered bees which 

 have been placed out of doors before a rather cold wave in the spring. 

 It Is evident by the so-called spotting of the hives. Colonies seldom 

 die from dysentery, but inasmuch as the adult bees which have suf- 

 fered from this condition soon die, the adult population becomes ma- 

 terially reduced in a short time. Inasmuch as this is most prevalent 

 in the spring, a reduction of the adult population is a serious handicap 

 to the colony. The relief is a flight for the bees and in some instances 

 it may be well to requeen in order that new vigor may be introduced 

 into the hive. Usually it is well to give a stimulative feed in order to 



TABLE OF DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS 



