DISEASES OF BEES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1937, Page 22

DISEASES OF BEES

INVESTIGATIONS BY DR. TARR

During the past three years research on brood diseases of bees has been going on at Rothamsted Experimental Station..writes "The Post's" London correspondent. Dr. Tarr has been doing this work which has so far proved so [promising that it was unanimously decided by the Bee Research Advisory Committee at Rothamsted to '^continue ior a further peri6d of three years if possible. The estimated cost is £550 per annum, of which the Agricultural Research Council have promised £300, if £250 per annum can be raised from other sources. • \

j The work carried put up to the preI sent has already cleared up many difficult points. Dr. Tarr has shown that European and American Foul Brood I are two distinct diseases caused by different organisms. He has confirmed that American Foul Brood is due to a bacterium Bacillus larvae, and that its incidence is independent of the strength of the colony. European Foul Brood, on the other hand, is a disease of weak stocks and is probably caused by Bacillus pluton, in association with other organisms. He has also shown that a third condition known as "Addled Brood," is very.: prevalent- in Britain, and constituted about one third of the cases of "Foul Brood" sent in for examination. It is liable to be mistaken for Foul Brood, but is really due to defect tive conditions in the queen, and once it is recognised can readily be cured by requeening. The work In aonteniplation will be concentrated on tests of control measures for both European and American Foul Brood and further work on the organisms causing; European Foul Brood, in Order that the incidence of this disease may;be as well understood as the others. It is to be hoped that further support will be available -to supply the small amount still required for this year's work, and that as many, contributors' as possible will continue to subscribe for the three years.

[Published by Arrangement.]