48 



EUROPEAN FOUL BROODS, ITS CAUSE, SYMPTOMS AND 

 TREATMENT. 



European foul brood Is caused by an organism known as Bacillus Pluton. 

 This disease attacks the larvae at a much earlier stage than American 

 foul brood, while the larvae are still curled up at the base of the cell. 



This disease is more destructive during the spring and early summer 

 than at any other times, often disappearing later in the summer -or 

 during a heavy honey flow. Italian bees resist the ravages of this disease 

 better than any other race. It spreads faster, is more destructive, and a 

 larger percentage of colonies are affected than with American foul brood. 



SYMPTOMS. 



The earliest indication is a slight yellowish or gray discoloration of 

 the larvae, which at the same time move about uneasily in their cells. 

 After death the larvae usually fall away from the bottom of the cell, los- 

 ing their rounded opaque appearance and become translucent. Later the 

 color changes to a decided yellow or gray, losing their translucency and 

 become a moist collapsed mass very much the appearance of being melted. 

 Finally all that is left of the larvae are grayish brown scales against 

 the bottom of the cells or a shapless mass on the lower side wall. The 

 scales are very seldom black and are not adhesive as in the American 

 Foul Brood, but are easily removed and the bees carry out a great many 

 in their effort to clean house. 



Decaying larvae which have died of this disease are usually not ropy 

 and the odor Is very scarce only in severe cases when a sour odor is 

 present similar to that of yeast fermentation. 



TREATMENT. 



Where the beekeeper is inexperienced in handling diseased bees, 

 European Foul Brood should be treated in the same manner as American. 

 It has been previously stated that Italian bees are able to withstand 

 European foul brood better than other races. In regions where this 

 disease is prevalent it is recommended that apiaries be requeened with 

 young vigorous Italian queens of good stock. This should always be 

 done whether the infected bees have been given the shaking or other 

 treatment. 



It has been found by many beekeepers that the removal of the queen 

 and keeping the colony queenless for a period of twenty days, and at 

 that time requeening with a young tested Italian queen, often results 

 in the disappearance of the disease. This treatment should only be used 

 by the experienced beekeeper. 



SAC BROOD. 



When attacked by this disease the larvae die about the time of sealing, 

 usually lying on their backs with their heads turned upward. The color 

 varies from light yellow to brown. The body swells and the contents 

 become watery and the head black and hard. This disease does not 



