The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-10-08
WARN BEEKEEPERS
OF EUROPEAN FOUL
BROOD IN COLONIES
From Montana State College

sipple, apiarist at Montana State
College, discussing the treatment
for European foul brood. This di-
sease of bees has not yet gained a
very strong foothold in the state
says Mr.. Sipple, but beekeepers
should be on their guard against il
and should know how to treat il
when 1t does occur.
While the disease is most prevail
ent in the spring, ii is during the
fall that the precaution should be
taken against it. as the disease is
most prevalent In colonies that EN-
erge from the winter i'll weakened
condition.
In the case of American foul brood,
infection starts just previous to the
time that the brood is sealed over.
In European foul brood, however,
infection takes place in the early
stages of larvae development. OBJ
servations show that the majority
of the young larvae die when from
two to four days old, although
some may be found dead in the cap
ped over stage. The cappings OF
diseased cells show the sunken and
perforated characteristics of the Am
erican foul brood. Instead of ly-
ing in their natural position on the
floor of the cells, the larvae assumes
various unnatural positions. In the
early stages the larvae are a dirty
lemon color AS the decay progress
es this turns to a brownish color
which gradually deepens. AS decay
goes on, the larvae melt down into
a greasy mass but do not show the
characteristic ropyness of American
foul brood Very little, if any odor
accompanies European foul brood,
although in severe cases there seems
to be slight odor, which, however.
should not be taken as a sure means
of diagnosis. In the final stage the
melted down mass dries up and be-
comes a grayish black scale which
unlike American foul brood, may be
easily removed. These scales may
be found In any position in the cell.
Drone and Queen larvae are fire.
quently affected and this may be a
means of aiding in the diagnosis
Probably the most common meth
cd of spreading the disease is rob- |
bling and the practice of equalizing. |
The manner in which European |
foul brood is spread cannot be de-
finitely accounted for, but some |
think the virus may be carried on |
the mouth parts of bees that drift
into healthy colonies. This, how
ever, is not certain.
AS black bees are more suseept-
ible to European foul brood han
Italian bees. Beekeepers, where this
disease is prevalent, should have all
colonies headed by Italian queens Of !
vigorous and resistent stock. Not |
all strains Of Italians are equally re-
sistent; therefore, the beekeeper
should make observations as to the
ability of his colonies to resist di-
sease. Queens whose progency show
resistent qualities should be used as
breeding stock to requiem all other
colonies. AS European foul brood
is a disease Of weak colonies, bee
keepers should take every precau-
tion to secure strong colonies of bees.
The disease is most prevalent during
the spring and early summer months,
hence colonies should be properly
prepared the previous fall They
should be put into winter quarters
with a goodly supply of food, large
number Of young bees, and vigor-
GUS. prolific young queen. They
should also have the proper winter
protection. Colonies that come
through the winter in a weakened
condition should be united as early
in the spring as Is permissible in or
der to secure strong colonies.
According to Mr.. Supple, frequent
failures In treating may be account |
ed for by the fact that the beekeep- !
or attempts to treat colonies that |
are too weak to be saved. 1t should |
be emphasized that only reasonably
strong colonies should be given treat
ment, and all weak, diseased colon
les should be united.
The treatmen given to colonies af-
fected with European foul brood does
not cause great loss in equipment
as is the case with American foul
brood. The guiding principle to be
followed in the treatment for this
disease is to see to ii that condi-
lions are made favorable for the bees
to remove as much as possible of the
diseased material during a time
time when there is no new brood
coming on. II colony is badly d.
seased 1t is advisable to kill the
queen Immediately, since 1t is evil
dent that her progency are not cap
able of resisting the disease In about
week after the queen has been re-
moved the colony should be exam
ined and all queen cells destroyed
so that the colony may become abb
solutely queenless. The colony is
allowed to remain in this condition
until most OF the diseased material
has cen removed. and then requiem
ed with vigorous, resistent,
young, Italian queen.
In treating and controlling Euro
pean foul brood 1t Is not necessary
TO destroy the brood combs unless
they are too foul to be Of further
service. Hives that contain foul
brood colonies need not be disinfeet-
ed and may be used again without
danger.