TKE4TMENT OF BEE DISE ISES. 



9 



keeper. The larva gradually sinks do^An in the cell and becomeb 

 darker in color (fig. 2, A, m) , and the po4erior end lies against the 

 bottom of the cell. Frequently the begmentation of the larva ib 

 clearly marked. By the time it has partially drjed down and has 

 became quite dark 

 brown (coffee col- 

 ored) the most 

 typical character- 

 istic of this disease 

 manifests itself. 

 If a match stick 



or tooth-pick is in- ^^-•' 



serted into the de- *"^- 



caying mass and ^^^ '""^'^^ '"^^^^^^ ^^ ^'"^^^^^^^ '^^^ ^^^"^ ^^^^^^^"^ ^ 

 withdrawn the larval lemams adhere to it and are drawn out m a 

 thread (fig. 3), which sometimes extends for several inches before 

 breaking. This ropiness is the chief characteristic used by the bee- 

 keeper in diagnosing this disease. The larva continues to di^^ down 

 and gradually loses its ropiness until it finally becomes merely a 



Fig. 4 — American foul biood comb, showing inegular patches of sunken Ctippmgs and scales 

 The position of the comb indicates the best way to view the scales (Original ) 



scale on the lower side wall and base of the cell (fig. 2, e^ ^, s). The 

 scale formed by the dried-down larva adheres tightly to the cell and 

 can be removed with difficulty from the cell wall. The scales can 

 best be observed when the comb is held with the top inclined toward 

 the observer so that a bright light strikes the lower sicle wall (fig. 4). 

 83568'— Bull. 442—11 2 



