Watch for Disease.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 59, Issue 3, 15 September 1939, Page 259

Watch for Disease.

Experienced bee-keepers, perhaps almost unconsciously, have acquired the habit of always looking for disease whenever frames containing brood are handled. This habit was caused by the conditions prevailing some years ago when the disease “foulbrood” was more often in evidence than colonies free from disease. Because of education and constant vigilance, however,

the position is now reversed, and in commercial apiaries the finding of foulbrood is rare, except in a few isolated cases. Beginners should also acquire this habit of always noting the condition of the brood whenever a frame is handled, and should become acquainted with the symptoms of this disease and the best methods of dealing with it when found. Briefly, foulbrood is caused by bacillus larvae, which attack ■ bees in the brood or larval stage. The infected larvae usually die just after the cells are capped over. In a few days the cappings over the cells containing this dead larvae become slightly sunken and appear somewhat darker in colour than the healthy surrounding cells, but this condition alone is not conclusive evidence of foulbrood. Diagnosis. If a suspected cell is opened and a thin coffee-coloured mass is noticed on the lower part of the cell and a wooden match or straw is inserted to attempt to remove it, it will be found in the

case of disease that the substance will adhere to the match and rope out for half an inch or more. This is considered- conclusive evidence of disease. When such is discovered the hive should be closed down at once and marked for future treatment. Care should be taken to burn the match used in diagnosing the disease. The method of treatment is fully explained in the bee bulletin referred to in last month’s notes, or a leaflet on foulbrood can be obtained from any office of the Department of Agriculture. The beginner would be wise, however, in getting in touch with the Apiary Instructor for his district and obtaining expert advice. He will be able to advise what steps should be taken. Among bee-keepers of long experience the opinion is now held that the cheapest and safest method of dealing with this disease is to burn the bees, hive and contents. This method is worthy of being adopted by all beekeepers.

—G. V. WESTBROOKE, Apiary Instructor, Hastings.