DIAGNOSING BEE DISEASES IN THE APIARY 25 



fected intestines when they are crushed is whiter and more turbid 

 than is the fluid from healthy intestines. After experience has been 

 gained, it is often possible, when favorable specimens can be obtained, 

 to make a diagnosis of Nosema disease in the apiary. There is consid- 

 erable variation in the appearance of the mid-intestine of healthy as 

 well as infected bees, however, and in many cases, particularly after 

 the bees are dead, a microscopic examination is necessary for a diag- 

 nosis of Nosema disease. 



Acarine Disease 



cause 



Acarine disease of adult honeybees is caused by a very small mite, 

 Acarapis woodi (Rennie) . This mite lives as a parasite in the anterior 

 thoracic tracheae (breathing organs), where it feeds directly upon 

 the tissues of the bees. Bees are not noticeably injured by one or a 

 few mites, but the mites breed and multiply within the trachea until 

 they become very numerous. Heavily infested bees are unable to fly 

 and soon die. 



DISTRIBUTION 



This disease of adult bees is not present in North America, but serious 

 losses occur from it in Europe. It has been reported present in Argen- 

 tina. In accordance with the provisions of an Act of Congress of 

 1922, 1 the importation into the United States of adult honeybees in- 

 cluding queen bees is strictly prohibited from all countries except 

 Canada. The United States Department of Agriculture, however, is 

 granted authority to make importations of adult honeybees for experi- 

 mental or scientific purposes. 



TRANSMISSION 



The mites enter the tracheae at their openings (spiracles). When 

 a few bees, or even one, of a colony become infested with fertile 

 female mites, acarine disease may be transmitted to other bees within 

 the colony. The mites mate within the tracheae, and later some of the 



'The act of Aug. 31, 1922 (Public, No. 293— 67th Cong.), entitled "An Act To 

 regulate foreign commerce in the importation into the United States of the adult 

 honeybee (Apis mellifica)," provides as follows: 



"* * * That, in order to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases 

 dangerous to the adult honeybee, the importation into the United States of the 

 honeybee (Apis mellifica) in its adult stage is hereby prohibited, and all adult 

 honeybees offered for import into the United States shall be destroyed if not 

 immediately exported: Provided, That such adult honeybees may be imported 

 into the United States for experimental or scientific purposes by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture: And provided further, That such adult honey- 

 bees may be imported into the United States from countries in which the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture shall determine that no diseases dangerous to adult honey- 

 bees exist, under rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treas- 

 ury and the Secretary of Agriculture. 



"Sec. 2. That any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Act 

 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be 

 punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding one 

 year, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court." 



