46 



BEE DISEASES. 



There are three infectious diseases of bees that attacli the young 

 brood. Of the three, the greatest losses arise from two, American Foul 

 Brood and European Foul Brood. The third, which rarely causes any 

 serious losses, is Sac Brood. Each disease has its characteristic appear- 

 ance and is caused by separate and distinct organisms. Foul brood is 

 destructive and causes serious losses, however, recent legislation has 

 brought about a systematic inspection in all localities having serious 

 outbreaks of these diseases and they are losing their destructiveness 

 just as rapidly as beekeepers learn how to recognize and treat diseased 

 colonies. 



AMERICAN FOLTL BROOD, ITS CAUSE, SYMPTOMS AND 

 TREATMENT. 



Figure 28. 

 Brood in Last Stages of American Foul Brood. 



American foul brood is caused by an organism called Bacillus larvae, 

 which attack the young larvae about the time they begin to fill the cells' 

 have ceased feeding and begun pupation. Usually the disease attacks only 

 worker brood. Race of bees, season or climate seems to have no effect on 

 the virulence of this disease. 



SYMPTOMS. 



The first indications of Infection are, a slight brownish discoloration, 

 the loss of the rounded appearance of the healthy larvae and a reversal 

 of the larvae in the cell. The larvae slowly settles down on the lower 

 side of the cells and become a light chocolate brown in color As they 



