BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
Years ago this disease got quite a start in our own aplary before we realized what it was; and had we at that time an engraving or photo like what we have already shown are should have discovered the disease long before we did. \(\Delta\)s it was we had to treat at a great disadvantage something like eighty colonies during thatsummer. Some of them have burned outright--hives, hees, frames, rounds, and all. Others we treated with salicylic acid, carbonic acid, or phenol, but not with very satisfactory results. Indeed, if we had treated all colonies at the start by the MeEvoy plan we might have had the disease under control, and probably would not have had to exceed two dozen affected colonies all told. The method that finally gave us relief was as follows: As soon as a colony was discovered having a cell or two of the diseased brood it was closed immediately, and a brick or stone was laid on the cover. Just before dark, and while all the bees of the aplary were in the hives, and all danger from robbers was past, we removed the hive from its stand, and put another one just like it in its place. This hive contained frames filled with full sheets of foundation. The bees were shaken off from the diseased combs, either on top of the frames or in front of the entrance of the new hive now on the old stand. The combs, as soon as free of bees, were put back into the old hive, and the whole thing was carried to the boiler-furnace, where the frames were burned in a hot fire. The hives were then disinfected by scorching out on the inside in a manner to be explained.
The m'evoy treatment; disinfecting hives.
We said we boiled or burned the hives; but Wm, MeEvoy, Woodburn, Ont., Can., fool- brood inspector for Ontario, and in the government employ, reports having treated successfully hundreds and perhaps thousands of colonies by putting the bees back into the _same hive from which they came._
His treatment is given thus in his own language:
Mr. McEvoy does not recommend treating the bit slungum that may be left should be the hive ; but reports have been received by the publishers showing that the disease has returned in some instances where the hive had not been disinfected. It is advised, therefore, that one and all disinfect the hives as well as the combs. While they may be immersed in boiling water, yet completely disinfecting them would possibly require a boiling of two hours, as the spores of these brood diseases have been shown to be able to resist in some cases a temperature of \(212^{\circ}\) for two and a half hours, and still survive.
A far better plan, and one much simpler to apply, is to put a handful or two of dry straw in the empty hive that contained the affected colony, and touch a match to it. With a stick poke the straw around, so that every portion of the hive will be scorched or blackened by the flame. It is not necessary to char deep; for if the wood be burned to a light brown or black, the progress of the disease will be arrested. The flame can be quenched by throwing in a dipperful of water. Such a hive will be completely disinfected, and may be used again with entire safety. It should be noted, however, that the alighting-board of the hive, as well as the entrance itself, should be charred slightly. Where straw is not available a gill or two of kerosene may be thrown inside the hive and ignited. But straw is much cheaper, and when the job is done it leaves no odor clinging to the hive.
What shall be done with the frames and the combs? If there is only one colony in the yard that is affected, it is advised to burn them _at night_\(-\)combs, frames, brood, and all. In order to do this, a small bonfire should be made of old brush; then when the fire is at its height throw on the combs one by one. The ashes should afterward be raked up and buried, for sometimes the wax will melt and run down among the wood ashes, without coming in contact with the flame itself. The ashes may be rendered safe, however, without burying if they be put over live coals and reburned.
In case the disease gets a start through the yard it will be rather wasteful to burn the combs, and it is, therefore, advised to melt them up at night in a vat of boiling water, after extracting any honey they may contain. In this latter operation be careful not to spill any honey on the floor, nor let any come in contact with the tools or clothing where the bees can get at it the following day. Every thing about the room in which the wax is melted must be cleaned up, and the oil slungum that may be left should be buried. Of course the process of rendering would ordinarily disinfect it; yet as there might be some carelessness in melting, th. reader is advised to take the safer course and bury the refuse. Neither is! advised to put any diseased or supposed-to-be diseased combs in a sun or solar wax-extractor. Too many of these machines are not bee-tight. Very often they leak, allowing either honey or wax, or both, to run out on the ground. It is doubtful whether the sun heat alone would be sufficient to bring about a thorough disinfection of the affected honey or wax. Nothing short of a kettle of boiling water, a steam or hot-water wax-press, or boiling water and an open hand-press should be used for handling these old combs. The handle of the screw, if it be of iron, should be exposed to a flame from the stove after the work is done. Any thing else that might become contaminated during the process of extracting and melting of combs should be likewise disinfected. The extractor itself should be thoroughly scaled out with boiling water--not once but several times; _and do not put this off one single day._
In case that full brood breaks out in the yard, and continues to break out from time to time, the only thing that remains then will be to treat the whole aipary, whether diseased or not. As soon as brood hatehes out of healthy combs, extract the honey and melt them up. The was thus severed, if taken out with a modern wax-press, will pay for the fomdation put back into the frames. Continue shaking every colony on frames of foundation as fast as brood hatches out. If in case of healthy colonies the disease shows up in only a mild form, one set only of frames and foundation need be given. In that case, use full sheets always.
A very good time to recoomb the bees will be during swarming season. It will then be almost or quite time to practice "shook "swarming, as advised in the text-books. All combs as fast as extracted should be melted up and their place taken by frames of foundation. While the old frames may be used over again after boiling or subjecting them to the flame of a bonfire, many advise the purchase of new frames that will probably be stronger and better than the old things that were formerly in the hives. It probably would not be necessary to ehar out or burn out the old hives where the whole aipary is treated; but if one desires to be on the safe side he would do well to treat hives as well as combs.
the bees will neglect the broad, when it will lie, as before described. But there may be a great abundance of honey or syrup in the hives, and still the larvae will die. Some springs and early summers there is a lack of pollen. In order that broad-rearing may be carried on in the hive there must be nitrogenous food of some sort, either of natural pollen or of bean or rye meal which the bekeeper may set out. Sometimes mailed milk powder is streven over the combs; but as this is rather expensive, we would advise giving the bees bean or rye meal, or any meal that is obtainable from some grain. This should be put on boards in a sunny protected place outdoors.
During the early spring of 1906 considerable pickled or dead brood was reported from various sections of the country. Investigation revealed the fact that this was nothing more nor less than _starced_ brood; starved, not because of a lack of honey or syrup, but because of the entire absence of pollen in the combs. A good deal of broad-rearing had started from pollen that was left over from the season before; but when this was exhausted, the poor bees, not being able to get any thing from natural sources, simply had to let the brood die. It is important, therefore, to see that all hives during the previous fall are supplied with pollen in one or two combs, for there can be no broad-rearing without it.
CHILLED, OVERTED, OR POISONED IROOD.
If the grubs all seem to have died about the same date, one may conclude some external change, probably a chilling atmosphere, or an exposure of the combs to a sudden change in the weather was the cause--particularly so if he discovers no color of sourness or foulness. If the brood that comes on subsequently seems to be healthy, and continues to be so, then he may be sure he has no infectious disease. He may then conclude that his brood is probably chilled and possibly poisoned, as a large amount of brood dies every fruit-bloom season, as the result of poison sprayed on the trees by the orcharlist. If he finds any such dead brood in his hives at that season he may conclude it died as the result of poison.
Overheated brood does not often occur except in the hottest weather, when the combs have been exposed to a hot sun without any bees over it, or when the same has been confined with a powerful colony with a closed entrance. When moving bees, and insufficient ventilation is given, many of the bees often die of overheating. In all cases of this kind much of the brood will be found dead. One will very often find that some of the brood looks suspicious from a shipment of bees just received by experts. Occasionally we have had reports from our customers of how they had received foul brood through a shipment of bees, not knowing that the nucleus or the hive of bees is often exposed by the expressman during shipment, to a hot sun or in a room with no air circulating.
NENDING SUSPECTED SAMPLES OF DEAD BROOD TO THE GOVERNMENT BAETBIOLOGIST.
We have taken pains to describe the various forms of dead brood, often called pickled brood, in order to enable the bekeeper to determine what he has in his yard; but if he finds a case of dead brood that smells quite strongly acid or sour, he had better send a sample, about 4x5 inches. wrapped in paraffine or oiled paper, the whole inclosed in a stout wooden or tin box, to Dr. E. F. Phillips, Bureau of Entomology, Washington, D. C. The report from the bacteriologists will soon determine what the trouble is. If the report comes back, "Not black brood nor foul brood," then the sender may rest easy. If the case looks like black brood, first smells a little sour and then afterward takes on a nasty decayed odor, we would advise treating the hive as if it were black brood.
black bees less able to resist foul and black brood.
It may be stated that black bees show less disposition to resist European or \(\Lambda\)merican fool brood than Carnidans or any of the new races. It follows, therefore, that all European fool brood should be eliminated from the apiary as soon as possible, as repeated tests have shown that the German bees do not resist any disease as well as the yellow races. But one must not rely entirely on a change of blood, as this of itself will not effect a cure in a great majority of cases.
A strong honey-flow always has a tendency to check the spread of both American and European fool brood. In the same way, heavy feeding will accomplish much the same result. But it often happens after a honey-flow, when stores are partly consumed, that the diseased matter is uncovered, when the dead larvae, showing the effect of the microbe poison or disease, will begin to appear again.
## Discussion.
It would be useless to effect a cure without extreme care not to have other colonies affected; and a little carelessness on the part of the bee-keeper may spread the disease throughout the whole apiary. \(\lambda\) comb from a diseased colony or a single drop of infected honey is enough to carry the disease--hence the instructions to operate in _the coverings_, so bees from healthy colonies will not steul any of the diseased honey. \(\lambda\) single bee from a diseased colony entering a healthy one will carry the disease in its honey side.
Do all work after dark, or at least when no bees are dying. Take every precaution not to start robbing, either of a diseased or a healthy colony. If there is _any_ robbing, it enlarges the whole apiary. If one suspects foul brood in any part of his apiary, he should by no means exchange combs. If it is in any colony, it may be in one that does not yet show the disease at all, but will give it to others. If one has extracted any honey he should not feed back without boiling. After handling a foul-broody colony he should not touch a healthy colony till his hands are thoroughly washed. Any knives, towels, or any thing daubed in the least with foul honey, must be religiously got out of reneh of bees. One should be careful _from the first_. Caution at the start will be worth a hundred times later on.
FORMALIN, OR FORMALDEHYDE, FOR CURING FOUL BIORD.
In 1903 and '4 discussion arose in _Gleemings in Ilee Culture_ as to the possible value of formaldehyde (or formalin) for curing fool brood. Some of the experimenters who had subjected several combs of honey and brood from infected colonies to the fumes of the gas in a tight box reported it a success. others tried the same thing only to find that such combs would transmit the disease the same as before. Experiments conducted in the Bureau of Entomology, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., showed that, when combs were subjected to the fumes of the gas for 48 hours in a Novy's anaerobic jar, all germs of the disease would be destroyed; but as the average bee-keeper could not have the requisite facilities, skill, and knowledge to carry on such work, he had better not take his chances of transmitting any infectious disease through combs fumigated under conditions such as he is able to provide. In all probability the work would not be complete enough to make disinfection sure. If any infection at all were left, the disease would spread again, and so the work might just as well have not been done--or not attempted; because melting up the combs and boiling, or, better, burning up the frames, would remove all possible traces of disease.
**DIVIDING.** This term is usually applied to the operation of increasing the number of stocks by putting half the bees and combs into a new hive, just about swarming time: it is really one method of artificial swarming. If you have an extra laying queen to give the queenless portion, it may do very well; but otherwise it is a wasteful way of making increase, and has been mostly abandoned. See Nucleus and swarming, under subhead Artificial Swarming; also Nucleus.
**DRONES.** These are large noisy bees that do a great amount of buzzing, but never stating anybody, for the very good reason that they have no sting. The bee-keeper who has learned to recognize them, both by sight and sound, never pays any attention to their noise, but visitors are many times sadly frightened by their loud buzzing. We will commence as we did with the worker-bees, at the egg, and see how much we can learn of these harmless and nonfensive inmates of the bee-hive.
If our colonies are prosperous, we may find eggs in the drone-comb of some of the best hives as early as March, but not, as a general thing, until April. You can tell the drone cells from the worker at a glance (even if you have never seen them) by the size, as you will see by looking at HoneyCom. Whenever you see eggs in the large cells, you may be sure they are drone-eggs. I do not mean by this that the eggs that produce drones look any different from any other eggs that the queen lays, for in looks they are precisely the same. They are almost the same in every respect, for the only difference is that the eggs that produce the worker-bees have been impregnated, while the others have not; but more of this, anon. The egg, like those producing workers, remains brouded over by the bees until it is about three days old, and then by one of nature's wonderful transformations is gone, and a tiny worm appears, a mere speech in the bottom of the cell. This worm is fed as before, until it is about a week old, and is then sealed over like a worker larvae, except that the cap to the cell is raised considerablymore : in fact, the captions very much resemble a lot of bullets laid closely together, but have now satisfactory evidence that the on a board. The young drones will begin to cut the caps of these cells in about 24 or 25 days: the caps come off in a round piece, very much like those from a queen-cell.
The body of a drone is hardly as long as that of a queen, but he is so much thicker than either queen or worker that you will never mistake him for either. He has no baskets on his legs in which to carry out to a much of hours, pollen, and his tongue is so unsuited to the gathering of honey from flowers that he would save to death in the midst of a de-ver-field.
We presume the young drones are ready to leave their hive after they are about two weeks old, and they do this shortly after the hive-perhaps two miles or more. We have now satisfactory evidence that the meeting between queens and drones takes place not very high up from the ground. Several observers, during the season of less, reported having seen this meeting not very far from the hives, during the swarming season. The queens and drones both sally forth during the middle of the day, or afternoon, and in from fifteen minutes to another, or possibly couple of hours, the queen returns with a white appendage attached to the extremity of her body, that microscopic examination shows to be the generative-organs of the drone. These facts have been observed by hundreds of beegers, and are well authenticated. In attempts to have queens fertilized in wire-eloth houses, we have, after letting the queens out, seen the drones pursue them until both parties vanished from sight. Still another fleet: If you take a drone in your hand some warm afternoon just as he has salled from the hive, and press him in a certain way,be will burst open something like the popping of a grain of corn, extruding the very same organ we find attached to the queen, and dying instantly.
The manner in which the meeting of the drone and queen takes place has been witnessed a great many times. We give here the statements of a few observer.
The Rev. Mr. Millette, of Whitemarski, Pa., appears to have been the first who witnessed the actual encounter. The following communication from his pen, which we copy from the _Former and Gardner_ for November. Issue, settles the important fact, as it came under his observation in the preceding summer:
most us us guess that.
In the months of June, an old stock there on a second swarm in which there were four queens. During the process of thriving, one of the queens was observed on the wing, and the moment was selected to a drone. After giving about a new hive both came to the ground in close contact; the writer manually followed them up and as the drone was about departing having broken loest sealed lerth the buses, the question one hand and the drone in the other. They were taken into house, and left at Hives to give, when the queen fleve to the closed widows that the drone, after crawling short on the hand, was not upon the windpoint, and in a very few minutes-exposed. Both the queen and the drone had a minky-wide fluid upon the extremity of the abdomen, and upon pressing the drone there was the indication of his possessing the superiority of his last.
To this we appeal the following extract of a letter written by Mr. S. B. Parsons recently dead, of Fushing, New York, confirm atory of the foregoing. Mr. Parsons was well known as a man of probity and honor. He was the introducer of the Italian bee into this country.
He says (_American Bee Journal_):
One fact in our last summer's experience will interest the readers of the _Journal_. The compilation of an Italian drop and queen, upon the wing, was witnessed in my apary by Mr. Cory and Mr. Otis. They saw the queen issue from the hive, and circle round, when the drone struck her both being upon the wing. A sharp snap casual; the drone fell to the ground, and was picked up dead. The queen fell in the grass, rose again, and entered the hive Mr. Cary soon searched for her, found the workers cleaning her off, and the male organs attached to her body.
Later Mr. Cary related his own account of the occurrence, which we submit in his own words:
About three eclock p. 3., on the shl of July, I saw a young Italian queen enter her hive without any sign of impregnation She came out again in a few minutes, and I closed the entrance to the hive. During her absence, which lasted thirteen minutes, three drones came in front of the live, and, finding the entrance closed, kept on the wing most of the time. When the returning queen was about three feet from the entrance, one of the drones very rapidly fleve to her, and, clasping his legs about her, caused her to settle a little to come in contact with a long spear of grass. At the same time an explosion was distinctly heard, and they immediately separated--the drone falling to the ground perfectly lead, and having his adolome very much content. The queen, after making a few circles in the air, entered the hive with the male organs of the drone attached to her. All these facts were witnessed by myself and Mr. R. C. Otis, of Kenosha, Wis, as were seated on opposite sides of the hive, not more than six feet apart, so that there can be no possible ground of mistake.
In later times a correspondent in _Glenings in Bee Culture_ thus describes the act:
During of the queen and drone on the wing, as seen by an eye-witness.
On June 21, 1888, I saw this mating take place. The queen issued from the hive, took two circles and some within the feet of my face, and was there met by a drone. They seemed to face each other, telling by their force legs, their bodies being perpendicular, and in this plane:her from my sight. It happened so unexpectedly that I hardly knew what was going on before it was too late to follow them. I could have easily kept up with them. I have described this because your hook says they have not been seen, only as they were willing about each other. I saw these fast; and as they did so they turned and came together, square up and down; and as they fleve away their bodies inclined about like this f, and each bee was using.
E. A. Pratt.
Shortly after this another correspondent reported the one thing yet unobserved; viz., the manner of separation of the queen and drone. He described it as follows :
AN Eye-witness to the queen's separation from the drone after mating.
I was going out to my bees one day, when two bees come whirling down in front of me and fell on to a pumpkin leaf. It proved to be a queen and drone. The drone acted as if he had been stung by a worker. He held fast to the leaf with his feet, and the queen kept whirling over and over, about as a thy would f caught in a spider's web, until she treed herself, then she fleve out of sight in an instant, and the drone remained where he was on the leaf, but showed life for only about three minutes.
S. R. Fletcher.
The late E. L. Pratt, of Swarthmore, Pis., a queen-preceder of note, in _Glenings in Bee Culture_ for 1904 thus wrote: