BEE DISEASES 



INTRODUCTION 



Diseases of bees are divided into two main classes, namely, brood 

 diseases and those which attack the adult bee. Although adult bee 

 diseases have caused great damage in sections of Europe, so far they have 

 not been serious in any parts of North America. 



The three important brood diseases of Ontario are American Foul- 

 brood, European Foulrood and Sacbrood. In general these diseases have 

 quite similar characteristics. Whereas European Foulbrood and Sacbrood 

 are easily controlled, there is no cure for American Foulbrood. To avoid 

 serious losses it is essential that beekeepers become sufficiently informed 

 to correctly diagnose all three diseases. 



Through the destruction of infected colonies American Foulbrood 

 causes an annual loss of about four thousand colonies in Ontario. Besides 

 the loss in bees, honey and equipment, many beekeepers become discour- 

 aged and sell their bees or, which is worse, neglect their colonies, leaving 

 them as a source of infection to other people's bees. Although some 

 parts of the Province have suffered from disease more than others, no 

 area is outside their range. 



Due to the inspection system in Ontario, disease has been held in 

 check and beekeeping on a commercial scale is made possible. Complete 

 eradication, however, can never be attained until every beekeeper becomes 

 his own inspector. It is the aim of this bulletin to place before the bee- 

 keeper in a clear and simple form the essential facts regarding identi- 

 fication and control of bee diseases» Do not let disease destroy your 

 colonies while waiting for the inspector. Learn symptoms and keep the 

 colonies disease-free at all times. If not sure of your diagnosis, send a 

 smear to the Apiculture Department, as explained later. 



e;xamination of colonies 



Control of disease is best effected by giving the colonies two thorough 

 inspections each year. The first examination should be made in the 

 spring at the beginning of the fruit bloom and dandelion flow before the 

 first super is added. If disease is controlled at this time the loss of one 

 or more supers is avoided. In addition to this, the disease does not get a 

 chance to spread to other colonies and cause trouble later on in the season 

 when there is surplus honey in the hives. Any infection picked up by 

 bees robbing diseased colonies during the fall and early winter is usually 

 evident and may be brought under control before it spreads too far. 



A second thorough examination is advisable during the summer just 

 prior to the removal of the light honey crop, particularly where disease is 

 suspected in the supers. When the bee escapes are being placed on the 

 hives, very little additional effort is required to examine the brood combs. 

 Finding disease at this time allows the beekeeper to keep diseased supers 

 away from clean equipment. Colonies having disease during the fall will 

 likely die before spring and act as a potent source of infection to other 

 colonies. 



Detection of disease is much easier on a bright day. When examining 

 a frame shake most of the adhering bees into the hive. By standing in 

 such a manner that the sun shines into the base of each cell, little difficulty 

 will be experienced in detecting abnormalities of the brood. A thorough 



