1909.] Disease of Bees in the Isle of Wight. 823 



by drugs, and, as a matter of fact, most of the recognised 

 medicinal methods of treatment have already been employed 

 by practical bee-keepers without permanent success. Since 

 remedial measures cannot be relied on, and the affected area 

 (the Isle of Wight) is at present small, an attempt to extir- 

 pate the disease completely seems justifiable. This would 

 necessitate the destruction of all the diseased stocks in the 

 Island. As the number of these at the present time seems 

 to be very limited, and since the disease almost invariably 

 ends in the complete destruction of the hive, such a measure 

 would not entail very serious loss. With every precaution a 

 few diseased stocks would be overlooked, and give rise to 

 later outbreaks. Such stocks would also have to be destroyed 

 as soon as the disease was diagnosed. 



Relationship to Other Diseases. 



Bee Paralysis. — This disease is uncommon in this country, 

 but is more common in warmer climates. In the early stages 

 the affected bees are seen leaving the hives with the abdomens 

 greatly swollen. The latter are dull black. Later, some are 

 seen trembling or shaking with wings bent up in an unnatural 

 position. The Isle of Wight disease appears to differ from 

 bee paralysis in that the affected individuals do not exhibit 

 the black and shiny appearance or the trembling motion of 

 the limbs and body which is regarded as a typical symptom 

 of that disease. Some bee-keepers of experience, however, 

 seem inclined to regard the disease as a severe form of bee 

 paralysis. 



Bee paralysis often readily yields to treatment, but this 

 disease is not influenced by any form of treatment which has 

 hitherto been tried. 



It is believed by some bee-keepers that B. Gaytoni of 

 Cheshire is the cause of paralysis, but this is not claimed by 

 Cheshire, and the belief is not grounded on bacteriological 

 findings. (White, 1906, p. 44, and 1907, p. 16.) 



The May Pest. — This disease occurs on the Continent, and 

 usually appears in May or June ; when an early spell of warm 

 weather is followed by cold or foggy days. The disease 

 attacks indiscriminately bees young and old, and the abdomen 

 of those affected appears slightly inflated, the whole body 



