Breaking news … in 1963

N. apis has recently been found to be common in Brazil where it was
believed to be distinct from the European and North American parasite,
because infection could be diagnosed only by finding spores in the
midgut cells of adult bees which behaved normally even when severely
infected. Contrary to popular belief, however, this is characteristic
of infected bees anywhere. Infection shortens the life of bees but
even this effect is lessened by adequate protein (pollen) in the diet.

Indeed, infected bees fed pollen live longer than healthy ones not fed
on it. Although nearly twice as many spores develop in bees fed
abundant protein as in those not receiving it, their effect is
mitigated by the rich protein diet. Accordingly, the severity of
infection in a colony is probably better measured by the percentage of
bees infected in a sample than by the number of spores that the sample
contains.

HONEY BEE PATHOLOGY By L. BAILEY
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, England

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