Diseases of bees

BEE DISEASES.

PARALYSIS

NOSIEMA AC ARMS

IE

FOUL BROOD

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Nosema, Acarine,

Paralysis,

Diseases of Bees

The

Capital

the

of

Beekeeper is Healthy Stock .

.

"The

the

'stock' of the apiarist

amongst the

is

Fundamental

honey bee.

'

necessities

pursuit of bee-keeping

is

for

the

'healthy

stock,'

and nothing shows more

clearly

and quickly the dependence

of the industry

when

upon

science than

the calamity of disease

upon the bee Rennie,

itself."

F.A.C.,

F.R.S.E.,

Crucial Problem keeping, p.

—Dr.

British

of

falls

John The Bee-

4

PUBLISHERS

Newton, Chambers

&

Thorncliffe,

:

Company Limited Sheffield

p37

Paralysis CAUSE. The

cause of this mysterious disease

—which

widely

is

prevalent in this and other countries, especially in the

spring

—has

long been

a

matter of conjecture,

recent scientific research conducted it

to be

due

m

until

Sweden proved

to pollen moulds, the metabolic products of

which are now believed

to be the exciting cause of the

disease.

SYMPTOMS. Affected bees show a peculiar trembling motion unable

are

to

fly.

This

crawling

characteristic of the disease, for

and Acarine Diseases termined is

of

abdomens, which become swollen, and such bees

their

disabilities of bees,

somewhat

it is

and

as well,

symptom

met with

in

is

not

Nosema

also in various

unde-

but the shaking movement

The

characteristic.

disease

has

the

mysterious feature of a sudden attack and similarly of a

This feature, however,

sudden disappearance.

easily explained

once the cause

is

realised.

The

is

affected

bees are to be seen dragged out of the hive by the healthy members.

EFFECT. It

is

a fact that Paralysis

stocks

if

is

capable of rapidly weakening

not taken immediately in hand, such stocks

consequently failing to be profitable, at least during the In fighting Paralysis, therefore, the

season of attack.

bee-keeper will be fighting one of the serious causes of

Spring Dwindling. Paralysis

Disease,

for

is

not such a serious trouble as Acarine

but

instance,

it

bad enough

is

for

any

commercial bee-keeper, or for that matter for anyone

who

expects profit from his bees.

As already pointed

out, this disease demonstrates itself early in spring

consequently

with

its

may be

serious after-effects,

felt in fruit

and clover

Furthermore,

it

and

responsible for Spring Dwindling

which would be

specially

districts.

not generally appreciated that a

is

combination of two or even three diseases with in one stock, thus leading to

its

may be met

collapse.

It

would

be most foolish, therefore, to neglect the treatment of a disease on account of

its

mildness, forgetting

its

predis-

posing influence to the attack of a more serious disease.

TREATMENT. For

a long time the treatment of Peiralysis has been

anything but satisfactory. the cause of the disease

Our present knowledge of now helps us to adopt more

rational treatment.

Preventive Treatment.—Do not allow bees to have, for

wintering,

combs

pollen,

especially

by the

cluster

side

for

that

an abundance of

contain

combs which

a long time.

will

be deserted

Spraying of pollen.

.

combs during the season with a

dilute Izal solution

Since the queen

the colony,

sound practice not to

it

is

queens in the apiary.

is

is

the Hfe centre of

a good practice.

tolerate

poor

See that your hives are water-

proof and your colonies are provided with porous dry packings.

Active Treatment.

—

(1)

Remove

the cause by taking

out of the hive of the affected colony, combs with pollen which appears to be mouldy or " stale " and replace

with clean combs. If

(2)

the queen

is

failing,

re-queen

at the earliest

opportunity with a young queen from a reputable strain. (3)

Stimulate with medicated cane sugar syrup.

such active treatment the disease

is

By

quickly brought

under control and the affected colony saved.

N.B. page 21

—For

Izal

dilutions

and

medications

see

SPRAYING THE COMBS

SPRAYING THE COMB AND BEES AFTER REMOVING QUILT

Nosema

Disease

CAUSE. Scientific

America,

research

New

Germany,

conducted in Britain,

many

Zealand, and

other countries has

confirmed the existence of a widespread disease of adult bees

known

Nosema

as

tozoon called Nosema fatal, this

disease

responsible

is

the

for

in the diminution or

Disease, which

is

due

to a pro-

Although not necessarily

apis.

weakening to colonies and may be degeneration

even

of

loss of the

resulting

stocks,

honey

harvest.

SYMPTOMS. This

disease,

if

present,

not

is

to

difficult

diagnose

microscopically by examination of the Chyle Stomachs of suspected specimens.

the presence of

It is

no more correct

Nosema Disease

or

its

to assert

absence than to

do the same with Acarine Disease, purely guided by outward symptoms which are often very slight. The suspicion of the apiarist

is

generally aroused

by the

slowness or the failure of the affected colony to develop normally.

Some

crawling

may

also

be witnessed in bad

cases with the crawling bees suffering

abdomens.

Many

from distended

affected bees are lost whilst foraging.

EFFECT. may

follow

Under

other

In the presence of a good queen the disease a slow course and ultimately die out.

circumstances especially

if

it

may seriously weaken the affected colony,

breeding be at a standstill

may

way

prepare the

{e.g.,

during mid-

honey harvest and

winter), predispose to the loss of the

to an attack of Acarine Disease,

resulting finally in the complete extinction of the colony.

TREATMENT. Preventive.

—Aim

always at keeping strong stocks,

headed by young virile queens and follow rational methods of

management. In

conducting .manipulations

especially

when

in

the

apiary,

and

dealing with infected hives, always keep

your hands moist with dilute Izal solution (1-400).

Empty

hives should be

washed

with Izal double strength solution.

inside

and outside

(See page 21.)

Entice your bees to a prepared water fountain and

charge

water with one teaspoonful of Izal to every

its

The

ten pints of clean fresh water. situated in a conspicuous

fountain should be

though protected place

m

the

apiary.

Active. is

—Once the disease

wise ta fight

it

is

in their degree of utilisation

on the course the disease

taking, the time of the year siderations.

You

when weather

diagnosed as present,

it

by germicidal procedures which depend and other

is

practical con-

are, therefore, the best judge as to

or other conditions will compel limiting

or modifying your procedures.

TREATING THE HIVES WITH IZAL FLUID

WASHING FRAMES

12

(a)

Medicating the food.

to extract

all

— In a bad case

it is

advisable

honey or syrup stored, medicate with Izal

as directed (page 21)

and feed back

to the bees.

Fresh

feed should similarly be medicated. (b)

Spraying Bees and Combs.

Do

not use a

is

a beneficial

Use

a tepid dilute solution

common

rubber spray syringe,

practice during the season. of Izal.

—This

but a fine vaporiser such as the Izal Simplex, damping the bees thoroughly to just that extent, they will not

crawl away from the hive.

Replace quilt quickly over

tops of the frames, the whole operation to take less than three minutes. (c)

Steaming.

—Take

a tin holding just over a pint,

put a small pipe through the top, attach a piece of india

rubber tube, put in a pint of double strength Izal solution, place over a small spirit

remove the

lamp and when boiling

quilt of the hive, drive

partly

back the bees with

the smoker, put the end of the tube under the corner of

the quilt, and steam the bees for two or three minutes,

not more.

N.B.

—For

page 21.

Izal

dilutions

and

medications

see

13

Acarine Disease CAUSE. Dr. Rennie's discovery that the disease

is

a parasite, " Tarsonemus Woodi," breeding

in,

caused by

and hvmg

expense of the tissue of the Respiratory system,

at the

has disposed of

many former

The

theories.

parasite

remains in these organs, and until the worker

grown, the disease does not usually become

is

fully

fatal.

SYMPTOMS. Visible signs of disease are more usually confined to the inactive period between late

autumn and early spring. In the adult worker's symptoms are crawling, inability to fly, with distention of the abdomen, and at certain times of the year a form of dysentery

Hence the

is

prevalent.

necessity for helpful treatment in preparing

the bees to withstand the critical periods.

An

infected stock

vicious effect

when

is

sluggish, does

disturbed.

upon the workers.

The

little

work and

disease has an

is

irritating

In winter a healthy stock

is

quiescent, whereas infected bees are restless

and form

no complete winter

gradually

cluster,

so

that

they

diminish in numbers.

During the active working months excessive crawling and bees with their wings dislocated or " split " are less frequently seen.

14

some

In this milder type of disease

of the earher

signs are often absent.

SPRING TREATMENT. The

necessity of gettmg

re-populating the hive

is

nd

of the infected workers

of first

and

importance in treatment.

Before disease has an opportunity of getting a very serious footing in the apiary, the constant use of Izal is

recommended

order

in

to

strengthen

the

bees

resistance.

When

brood rearing

rapidly, the disease,

the stock strong in

Weak and

if

encouraged and progresses

is

present,

young

on

little

headway

in

bees.

feeble colonies cannot be treated separately,

but should be united together sufficiently

makes

Crowd

warm.

when

the weather becomes

the bees by a division board

either side of the cluster, giving extra

becomes necessary.

When

safety, feed slowly until

room when

it

syrup can be used with

honey can be gathered

in the

fields.

The

stock, as

and carry pollen

it

grows stronger,

plentifully.

will

become

active

Fewer crawling bees

will

then be seen. If

symptoms

of disease appear, stimulate all stocks

with soft medicated candy.

During mild weather spraying can be practised with advantage.

Use the Izal Vaporiser with a tepid

Izal solution.

dilute

Transfer the bees to clean hives, which

15

have previously been washed out with double strength /za/ solution.

SPRAYING. Remove

the quilts and spray gently over the frames,

taking care that the bees are not driven off the brood.

A

little

smoke given

at the entrance will ensure that the

When

bees are well to the top of the combs.

these are

exposed, use a fine mist spray and avoid saturating the stock

and drowning any

days

when

Spray only on

of the bees.

fine

the brood chamber can be opened without

risk of chilling the brood.

The free

it

floorboard should be occasionally cleaned to of

any dead which may accumulate.

Combs

which may have been removed should be sprayed with Izal dilute solution before using

Re-queening Italian

prolific

is

them

again.

strongly recommended.

queen given during

often sever the chain of disease

May

A

young

or June

may

and enable the bee-

keeper to build up a strong colony for honey production.

Favourable conditions brought about by the fine weather have a marked trouble

is

effect

upon

colonies,

and

warm little

usually experienced at this period.

Replace old combs with those newly built whenever possible.

AUTUMN TREATMENT. On

removal of the supers the brood nest should be

examined.

Re-queen during August

if

not previously

.

16

done, to ensure ample bees before winter sets

breeding by feeding slowly, and,

late

feed

rapidly

in.

Stimu-

stores are short,

if

September the necessary amount

in

of

Late swarms

medicated syrup needed as winter stores.

should be united together to make strong stocks. If

makes

disease

its first

appearance in the autumn,

unite the infected colonies and spray,

as advised for

spring treatment.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES. Mild attacks of disease are less difficult when advanced stages have been reached. measures are therefore valuable.

to check than

Keep the

Precautionary hive entrances

contracted, and be careful to avoid robbing. fect

Old imper-

combs should be replaced by frames containing full Wired-in new clean combs form

sheets of foundation.

a strong incentive to brood rearing in the spring.

When

manipulating bees, keep the Izal Vaporiser at

hand and spray

Make it

will

liberal

slightly before closing the hive.

use of Izal Disinfectant as directed, and

be found to ensure a greater immunity from

disease in building

There

is

restricted.

up

no need

successful apiaries.

The methods

disease

now

should

render

in the

the keeping of bees

for

to

be

of controlling the spread of

hands of

bee-keeping

all

intelligent bee-keepers

more popular and more

profitable as time goes on.

N.B. page 21

—For

Izal

dilutions

and

medications

see

a.

< O en

< a z <

% a s >j

u X u z Cd

g a:

H o

z 3 03 a 04 o

—

18

Foul Brood or Bee Pest For nearly twenty years the author of "A Modern Bee Farm" has persistently advocated Izal as a simple, harmless,

and the only

remedy

effective

m

the treatment of

foul brood.

While he has been able to prove that the disease can be cured without the aid of medicine, he has

same time been convinced must have an absolutely will certainly

at the

that the average bee-keeper

effectual

check infection

weapon

at

hand which

at the first application.

A

complete cure must always result where the owner of diseased stocks will carefully carry out the definite and active course of treatment

recommended by the above

author.

The methods as follows

(1)

To

given in

"A Modern Bee Farm"

are

:

begin with,

never

spray or sprinkle combs

having a large proportion of healthy brood with cold disinfectant.

when such

all

living

comb

at a

Place

them near the outside and

brood has hatched

out, insert

one

time in the centre, after thoroughly

spraying both sides. (2) In

commencing

stock

(seeing

to treat

that

this

destruction of combs),

any very weak diseased treatment first

of

all

obviates

any

give the said

— ;

19

colony a this

comb

full

Have

first

times

Izal solution.

will

generally

wash out each week

by dipping

with

suffice)

At the same time

of the quilting,

it

once a week until

dilute

saturate the

whole

pan of the

into a

and place on dripping wet.

solution,

(4) If

smothering the bees.

a change of hives, and

(three

this

If

cannot be done, then burn comb, frames and

bees at night, (3)

of healthy hatching brood.

Continue

satisfied all is well.

required to shake bees off their foul combs, they

should be sprayed with the solution over-night bees,

combs, and everything.

be safely started

Otherwise the disease

combs,

spraying solution

two

may be

brood,

in a clean hive.

disposed

and bees

with

of

by

warm

or three times weekly.

—Use medicated syrup. The Water Supply. — Use one tea-spoonful

(5) If desired to

(6)

Next day they may

on foundation

Feed.

of Izal

to ten pints of water.

N.B. solution

— ;

It

is

useless

to

place

combs

in

a bath of

they must be sprayed with the Izal vaporiser,

or the base of the cells will not be reached.

has been found the only

remedy bees do not object

they are even attracted by in treatment.

Izal solution

it

—and

this

is

to

half the battle

a. a:

>

tn

O Z H < O Q S Ixl

—

21

DIRECTIONS for

use

of

IZAL

The IZAL Solutions recommended for Brochure are made up as follows

Dilute Solution

;

—Add

1

use

throughout

this

:

teaspoonful of IzAL GERMICIDE

to one pint water.

Double Strength Solution

Germicide

:

—^Add

2 teaspoonsful of IzAL

to one pint water.

Larger quantities pro

rata.

MEDICATED HONEY, SYRUP, CANDY The

following

recommended culture

and

in

directions

Leaflet

Fisheries,

for

for

Bees

No. 349 issued by the Ministry entitled,

Stocks of Bees for Over- Wintering"

To

Medicated Food

"Methods

of

Obtaining

:

medicate Syrup or Candy, add one teaspoonful

IZAL

to 8 pints or 10 pounds, as the case

Varying quantities in proportion.

of

may

be.

are

Agri-

Strong

a.

> en

< o a a S % o z a Ed Ed

b

23

The

Izal

Simplex Vaporiser

Inexpensive

Efficient

A

single stroke of the

pump

produces a cloud of

IZAL

in a dew-like spray.

The

efficiency

the Vaporiser

of

greatly increased

owing

to

is

the jets

being so arranged that the fluid

is

not drawn into the plunger chamber.

A HEAVILY ENAMELLED

and

REALLY WELL-FINISHED

RELIABLE SPRAYER. Specially recommended for use in the

APIARY, GARDEN, STABLE, KENNEL, POULTRY

HOUSE. FOR PRICES SEE LIST ENCLOSED.

24

Hygiene Specialities for the

Beekeeper

Germicide

Izal

Bottles,

1/-,

— Drums— Tins

1

from

all

Not

Chemists.

sent

by

post.

gallon.

1

gallon, 5 gallons,

10 gallons.

Simplex Vaporiser

Izal

Packed

Izal

1/6,

in Case,

forwarded carriage paid.

Soap (Household) 1

lb.

Doublets.

Izal Disinfectant In Tins, Bags and

Powder

Drums.

For use when liquids are unsuitable, and as a Fly

repellant.

Prepared by

NEWTON, CHAMBERS & THORNCLIFFE,

near

CO. LIMITED,

SHEFFIELD,

ENGLAND.

Messrs.

NEWTON,

CHAMBERS & Ltd.

maintain

up-to-date

Co. and

large

Laboratories in

which eminent bacteriologists

are

continually

engaged on research work in

connection

with

the

problems of

Household Hygiene Poultry Hygiene

Veterinary Hygiene

Brochures

containing

pert advice based on years'

experience

above

subjects

ex-

many

on

the

will

be

supplied free of charge to users of Izal.