Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift. 1917. Bd. 11, h. 1. 



THE TOXICITY OF MOULDS TO THE HÖNEY- 

 BEE, AND THE CAUSE OF BEE-PARALYSIS 



BY 



GÖTE TURESSON 



In following up my studies 011 the toxicity of moulds to aninials 

 my attention was drawn to some disturbances among bees, appa- 

 rently mycotic, and showing great similarity with poisoning from 

 oxic moulds. In bee-literature the disease is termed bee-paralysis 

 v in German »Flugellähme», »Maikrankheit» etc). Anyone who 

 has seen the effects of feeding toxic moulds to rabbits or guinea 

 pigs must have noticed the symptomatic similarities between this 

 intoxication experimentally induced and bee-paralysis. Most of the 

 current theories endeavouring to explain the cause and nature of 

 paralysis in bees have, however, taken refuge to views totally dif- 

 ferent from the idea that poisoning from moulds is the source of 

 the trouble. Pollen from poisonous plants, »sour» water, bacteria 

 and animal parasites have all been thought to cause the disease. 

 When all other possible explanations have been proven inadequate 

 mention has sometimes been made of moulds growing in the bee- 

 hive. The Zandeu theory, discussed more in detail in the follow- 

 ing, is the only serious attempt hitherto made to clear up the mat- 

 ter. That this theory, however, is untenable has long been the 

 opinion of practical bee-keepers. 



The pathological significance of moulds infesting the bee-hive 

 will be clearly demonstrated in this paper. Furthermore, that the 

 paralysis can most readily be induced by feeding bees on mouldy 

 food. The intoxication due to the feeding of moulds exhibits every 

 characteristic of phenol poisoning, thus strengthening the belief that 

 phenolic substances present in the moulds are the cause of the 

 intoxication. 



