White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-04-09
Healthier Bee
Broods Is Aim

The Benton County Beekeeper's
Association is cooperating with the
Extension Service and the Division of
Agriculture OF the State College of
Washington is fighting the bee dis
eases which exists in the county. These
diseases, American and European
foulbrood, are menacing the beekeep-
ing industry of the county
B. A. Slocum, bee specialist at w.
S. c. was in the county from March
"a to April 6 to assist the bee
keepers in conducting campaign
against these diseases. Regarding
them, Mr.. Slocum SAYS:
American Foul Brood is caused by
spore bearing bacterium, Bacillus
larvae. This germ is very resistant,
which fact has been established by
various experiments. One-half of the
spores have been as good as ever after
being boiled for ten minutes or in
contact with some of our strongest
chemicals, such as corrosive Subli-
mate or Carbolic Acid, failed to kill
them unless left for long periods of
time. The spore is carried in the
AlOAASy, VI III Oiu SoAIUS, Illus OllC
must be very careful and not expose
diseased honey or combs where bees
may find them. The disease attacks
the larvae about two days before the
cell is capped, the larvae consequent
ly dying after the cell is capped. The
Gaping starts to sink and little pin
hole appears in the cap. The scales
and the diseased larvae adhere to the
cells, which makes it possible for the
bees to handle this disease without as
sistanc. The larvae, when affected
changes to a light brown color, then
becomes darker and finally melt down
into black scales which lie along the
bottom of the cells. The disease
spreads slowly and does not affect
adult bees. If comb or hive be-
comes very badly infected it will have
a disagreeable odor, like burnt glue.
The scale of the pupa will have a very
fine thread, which is the tongue of
the bee, pointing upward and some
times adhering to the roof Of the cell
-as this characteristic appears only
in this disease it is conclusive proof
of its presence AS the majority of
the cells are capped and scattered over
the comb, the comb has pepper-box
like appearance.
European Foul Brood is caused by
the germ Bacillus pluton, which is a
non-spore bearing form and thus not
as resistant as the American Foul
Brood germ. 1t is not definitely
known how it spreads but is believed
to be carried by the nurse and house.
cleaning bees.
"This disease attacks the larvae
when they are about four or five days
old and they generally die before be-
ing capped over. The affected larvae
first turns to water white, after losing
its healthy creamy appearance, then
changes from yellow to a darker
brown. The larvae when attacked are
cl1rled up in the bottom Of the cells,
thus the scales will usually be in the
same position. AS the larvae dries up
into scale the tracheal or breathing
tubes of the bees become prominent,
forming white denarkations giving the
larvae a segmented appearance. The
scales are loose and are easily taken
from the cell-due to this fact a
strong colony can usually handle this
disease without assistance. The dis
case spreads rapidly, at times taking
entire apiaries in one season. Like
the American, it does not attack the
adult bee. The italian bee seems to
be more resistant than the black bee,
so it is advisable to requiem all black
colonies with good italian queens.