JOURNAL 
OF 
ECONOMIC ENT 
/ 
OFFICIAL ORGAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Ol 
Vol. 11 AUGUST, 1918 ^No. 4 
AN UNUSUAL DISEASE OF HONEY BEES 1 
By Elmer G. Carr 
An unusual disease of honey bees appeared in an alarming manner in 
some well kept apiaries in New Jersey and many other states and in 
Canada the past season (1917). This was not the first appearance of 
this disorder in the state and it is entirely possible that the same trouble 
may have appeared in the apiaries of the less observant beekeepers, 
many times previous to this date. This trouble was first brought to 
the notice of the department of apiary inspection in June, 1915. 
Mr. Charles Schilke of Morganville, Monmouth County, a beekeeper 
with considerable experience operating about 300 colonies reported a 
great loss of bees from the hives in one of his yards located near 
Bradevelt. Thousands of dead were lying and thousands of dying 
bees were crawling about in the vicinity of the hives, collecting in 
groups on bits of wood, on stones and in depressions in the earth. The 
affected bees appeared to be practically all young adult workers about 
the age when they would normally do the first field work, but all ages of 
older bees were found. No abnormal condition within the hive was 
noticed at this time. The brood appeared normal except for quantity. 
The apiary was located in a grove of small trees and the hives were 
quite thoroughly shaded. The stock was good Italians moved the 
preceding spring from the home apiary a few miles distant. Poisoning 
was suspected but no definite conclusions were reached. There is no 
record of the local meteorological conditions at or immediately preced¬ 
ing this time. 
1 This and the following paper were read at the Pittsburg meeting. They were re¬ 
ceived too late for insertion in the published proceedings.— Ed. 
