SYMPTOMS: In some respects the symptoms of European foulbrood often resemble those of American foulbrood but the two diseases are distinct. European attacks both the worker and drone larvae, principally during the unsealed state though occasionally sealed cells may be found diseased. The affected larvae first twists about in the cell and, dying, remains in whatever position death finds it. It retains this position after death until dried up into scale. The color of the dead larvae varies but a yellowish tinge predominates, deepening to a dark brown or black as the scaly state is reached. This yellowish cast and the irregular position of the dead larvae or its scale are the chief characteristics which distinguish this disease from American foulbrood. The dead matter, when tested with a toothpick, may rope a little in a lumpy sort of way, easily distinguishable from the gluey elastic strand of American. Its watery content also usually appears to be greater. It may or may not be foul smelling. The odor test cannot be safely relied upon. The dead matter is easily removed by the bees and until the colony is overcome by the disease the scale may not appear. European foulbrood usually spreads, both within the hive and from hive to hive, much faster than American. While some colonies seem to resist it, showing only a trace, others succumb quickly. Weak colonies suffer most but strong ones are by no means exempt. Its greatest ravages occur in the early spring. It frequently abates, and may even disappear, during a heavy flow but this relief is too uncertain to be regarded as a cure.

TREATMENT: All successful treatments for

European foulbrood are based on the fact that the bacillus of the disease is apparently not a spore-former, does not permanently infect the honey and combs and cannot long exist when deprived of its food supply, young larvae. So the object of the treatment is to starve out the bacillus by temporarily bringing brood rearing in the sick hive to a stop and also to requeen the colony from different stock. In some cases it may be sufficient to cage the queen of the sick colony for a week but we recommend killing the queen unless the case is very mild. When the dequeening method is employed the colony should be given a mature queencell eight days thereafter. If left to requeen themselves they are very apt to fail. Queencells built in diseased colonies do not always hatch, and therefore should be destroyed at the time the introduced queencell is given. If no mature cells from healthy stock are available then give the sick hive a comb of brood containing eggs from a healthy hive at the time the native built queencells are destroyed. This will oblige them, to raise a fresh batch of queencells from the introduced brood. The treatment may also be carried out by introducing a young laying queen. In this case the colony should be left queenless for 16 days, care being taken to destroy all native built queencells the eighth day. During the queenless interval the bees will be relieved of brood nursing and turn their attention to cleaning up the diseased combs for the new queen to lay in. Weak colonies are apt to be slow and negligent in this work and should never be treated by either of the above methods until first united to medium strength. It is worse than time wasted to treat weak colonies for European foulbrood. Treatment in the fall of the year is almost always a failure. They should be killed by the method described under American foulbrood. " The combs and honey from European foulbrood colonies need not be destroyed provided care is taken to store all combs containing dead larvae until the dead matter has thoroughly dried up, after which they may be safely used, preferably for super combs, on healthy colonies.

We strongly recommend preventative measures in dealing with this disease. Do not attempt to winter very weak colonies when it is prevalent. Feed in the spring to offset adverse weather conditions. Requeen yearly with queens from a vigorous strain. Set the hives as far apart as possible in the apiary; six feet as a minimum. The means by which the disease is spread are not fully understood but it is generally supposed that the intermingling of bees, especially young bees, is partly responsible.

When bees require feeding use sugar syrup made from equal part of sugar and water mixed cold. Never feed honey unless you are positive that it is free from bee disease infection. Much of the honey on the market, while being entirely wholesome for human consumption, is infectious to bees.

Do not hesitate to call the inspector when something appears to be wrong with your bees; a stitch in time saves nine. There is no charge for inspection.