Isle of Wight Disease in Hive Bees. 51 
VI. 20th June.——Fresh spores of Nosema were, on this date, mixed with 
honey and fed to a number of bees in a small cage. On the 26th several of 
the bees were killed, and an examination was made of the alimentary canal. 
Planonts were seen in very large numbers. A further examination on the 
30th revealed the presence of both planonts and meronts. Spores were not 
seen. 
In connection with the foregoing experiments control lots of bees were 
in most cases kept. Further we have had a very considerable experience with 
caged bees under the same conditions as those of the experiments. We have 
not been able to detect significant differences in mortality amongst such caged 
bees. No conclusions are therefore drawn with reference to the cause of death. 
Our experience is that captivity in small cages without a queen is eventually 
fatal to the healthiest of bees. | 
With regard to the behaviour of the bees while under experiment, it 
was not possible to decide whether Isle of Wight was present. The 
condition of the intestine which we have learned to associate with Isle of 
Wight disease, and which we find has been described by Imms (Jour. B. of A., 
xiv. pp. 133-4), has never been observed in those caged bees. 
The experiments numbered II.-IV. were made in September and January 
with spores obtained from bees which died in June. These dead bees were 
kept in a laboratory cupboard under ordinary conditions, and the results 
-would suggest that in some instances at least the vitality of the spore is 
brief. 
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING RELATION BETWEEN NOSEMA APIS AND 
ISLE OF WIGHT DISEASE. 
Our main conclusion regarding Mosema apis is that so far we have 
been unable to recognise any causal relation between the presence of this 
parasite and the disease. We have found it to be present over prolonged 
| periods in healthy stocks, while we were unable to find it in other stocks 
in the apiary, nor did Isle of Wight disease spread under these conditions 
although various races of bees were present. Deliberate infection of a stock 
with Nosema did not produce the disease. It is well established also that 
the disease occurs where the parasite cannot be found. We have numerous 
instances of this on Deeside. 
From known facts regarding Nosema in other countries, e.g. in Germany 
and in Victoria, Australia, it appears that Wosema apis is just as common in 
healthy bees as in diseased. They are practically all “ parasite carriers.” 
