LOSS PROM FOUL BROOD AND POOR MANAGEMENT. 



WESLEY FOSTEB, STATE INSPECTOR. 



This paper is intended to aid the bee-keeper in the detection and 

 cure of foul brood, and in the essential principles of bee management. 

 The loss to the bee-keepers of Colorado due to the actual death of col- 

 onies from foul brood is conservatively estimated at $50,000 annually. 

 The loss in crop totals as much, and the discouragement to the bee-keeper 

 often causes him to give up the business. 



The disease is prevalent in almost every county In Colorado where 

 bees are kept, so the Importance of a thorough understanding of Its 

 nature and the treatment for cure is necessary to save the Industry 

 from destruction in widely extended districts. 



Probably the next greatest loss to the bee industry is from poor man- 

 agement, caused by ignorance of the bees' requirements and fear of stings. 

 Disease would not be so widespread if bee management had not been so 

 greatly neglected. The few suggestions here offered will help in avoid- 

 ing the grossest errors, but will not supplant the need of every bee-keeper 

 for a good bee book, supplemented by actual experience in apiary work. 



THE SYMPTOMS OF FOUL BROOD. 



The bees of an affected colony do not work with the vigor common to 

 a normal hive, and do not readily clean out the infected larvse. The 

 larvae, on first becoming diseased, turn from a white to a light chocolate 

 color, and, as decay progresses, to a dark coffee color, the bodies settling 

 into a formless mass on the lower side of the cells. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) 

 Most of the larvae die at about the time of the capping of the cells, al- 

 though some die before sealing; and these are left exposed to view. The 

 cappings of the sealed cells become sunken and darker In color than those 

 of the healthy brood. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The bees tear small holes in 

 the caps of many of these affected cells. If there is any considerable 

 quantity of diseased brood in the various stages of decay, a very offen- 

 sive odor Is given off, especially on warm days, the odor bearing some 

 resemblance to that of an old glue pot. This odor may be detected several 

 feet from a hive which is far advanced with the disease, and may be 

 easily noticed upon removing the cover, if the disease has made much 

 headway. However, when breeding has largely ceased in the fall or late 

 summer, the dried-down scales of the dead larvse will be all that will 

 appear (see Fig. 3), and most of these may be covered with the honey 

 In the cells. A characteristic peculiar to this disease Is the ropiness of 

 the decaying brood, which may be demonstrated by Inserting a straw 

 Into the mass and slowly withdrawing It; if the mass adheres, stringing 

 out for half an inch or more, it Is, no doubt, American foul brood. (See 

 Fig. 5.) 



THE TREATMENT OF FOtIL BROOD. 



A cure is usually effected by removing all Infected material from the 

 bees, causing them to construct new combs and store uncontaminated 

 honey In place of the old. This is done by the shaking treatment. The 

 best time to treat diseased colonies Is when there is a honey flow, so 

 that other bees will not be Inclined to rob. If this is not possible, a tent 

 of mosquito netting may be placed over the hive during treatment. The 

 work may be done In the evening, about sundown, when there will be 

 slight danger of robbing. 



All preparations should be made before shaking, so that no honey 

 will be exposed to robbers. Provide a clean, new hive with frames con- 

 taining starters not over one Inch wide. An extra hive without frames 

 will be needed in which to place the old combs after shaking off the bees. 

 The cover must be kept on this hive, except when putting in the combs. 

 Now, with veil In place, smoker and hive tool in hand, you are ready to 



