20 TREATMENT OP BEE DISEASES. 



treatment of the contagious diseases and particularly in compelling 

 negligent and carelc:!- beekeepers to treat their diseased colonieb. It 

 ib quite po^-'-ible for the individual beekeeper to clean up his own 

 apiarv by following the directions given in this bulletin, but unless 

 all of the beekeepers in the neighborhood do the ^ame thing there 

 will probabl}' be a recurrence of the tiouble clue to infection from 

 outside apiarie«==. It is therefore manifestly to the advantage of the 

 beekeepers that they cooperate with the inspectors in the fight against 

 diseases. 



EXAMIlSrATIOlSr OF SAMPLES OF DISEASED BKOOD. 



The Bureau of Entomology of this department is prepared to 

 assist in the diagnosis of disease in cases where the beekeeper is 

 unable to tell whether or not disease is present, or to determine which 

 disease i^ in his apiary. Samples of brood comb about 5 inches 

 square containing diseased or dead larvse should be ^ent by mail 

 in a strong wooden or tin box. The comb should not be wrapped in 

 paper or cotton, but should be cut to fit the box closely. It is not 

 possible to diagnose from empty combs, and no honey should be 

 included in the sample, as it is valueless in diagnosis and will prob- 

 ably spoil the sample as well as other mail matter. The name of the 

 sender must always appear on the package, and any available data 

 should be sent in a separate letter. Never inclose a letter in the box 

 with the sample. 



THE DISEASES OE ADULT BEES. 



The diseases affecting adult bees are but imperfectly known. At 

 present four are known to beekeepers by name. Whether these are 

 entirely distinct or whether under each name one or more diseases are 

 included is not known. As stated in the introduction, these diseases 

 have not been sufficiently investigated to give much help to the 

 practical beekeeper, 



DTSENTEBY. 



Dysentery affects bees only in the winter and is manifested by a 

 distension of the abdomen, due to an accumulation of fecal matter 

 in the intestine. "When a day warm enough for flight occurs the 

 bees fly from the hive to cleanse themselves, and the hive and sur- 

 roundings are spotted with yellow excreta. After a good cleansing 

 flight the trouble usually disappears, but if the bees are unable to fly 

 they often die in great numbers. It is generally believed that dysen- 

 tery is due to improper winter stores, the honey containing too high 

 a percentage of indigestible matter. Honeydew honey almost always 

 produces dysentery, while bees wintered on high-class honey or sugar 

 sirup are not affected. From the wide experience of many bee- 



442 



