MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

150 DR. MILLERSare trembling or jerking and moving their wings. Sometimes theyjust turn around in a very small circle, and sometimes they lieon the ground for two days, kicking or moving their legs untilthey finally die. Some have greatly enlarged abdomens, almostas large as a young queen, while others look shiny like they hadjust crawled out of grease or syrup. They have considerablehoney and brood, but do not gain any.(a) Do you think this is what they call May disease?(b) What is the cause?(c) Is it contagious?(d) Do you think it would do any good to requeen?(e) What can I do to get rid of this disease?A. (a) Your excellent description marks the disease quiteclearly as the disease called in Europe Mai de Mai, or Maikranheit(May disease), and generally called in this country beeparalysis.(b) It is believed to be due to a microbe called bacillus gaytoni,and also bacillus depilis.(c) It is not considered contagious; yet sometimes affects awhole apiary.say it(d) I don't know. Some have claimed that as a cure; othersdoes no good.(e) I don't know. Many cures have been reported successful,only to fail when tried further, and as the disease has a way ofdisappearing of its own accord, the supposed cures may have noeffect.O. O. Poppleton sprinkles sulphur on the bees and combs. Thisdestroys the sick bees, but it also destroys the unsealed larvse,unless the brood be removed.Mesquite.—Q. Where is the mesquite found, and what is itsvalue?A. The mesquite, a low, brushy tree, is found in Texas, NewMexico and Arizona. It yields honey best during very dryweather. In Te.xas they have a crop of mesquite honey nearlyevery year. The honey is amber in color.Mice.—Q. I bought my partner's share of the bees, and onopening the hive I found a mouse-nest in it. I thought that verystrange, having never heard of it before. Have you any mice inyour beehives? The colony is a strong one, and I thought thebees would keep the mice out. It never destroyed any combwhile in there.A. Yes, indeed; I've had mice in hives, and they have notalwaj'S been as considerate as yours, for they have sometimesgnawed the combs. You can keep them out by having the en-