Blane and Rich, Thanks, and you've succeded is shaking my certainty somewhat, which is a good thing. I had a lot of foul brood in Santa Barbara County in the 80's both in my hives and in the hives of Art Consur for whom I worked for awhile. (I hear he's retired recently, some may know him). When I stuck the twig into the dead larvae it was just as ropey, the color was the same, and the stink, as you know, isn't something one smells everywhere in nature :-). The scale at the bottom of the cell is also the same. Where I'm at now is 30 minutes north of where I experienced it before, and I hear from others that foul brood is a problem hear. Having said that, I didn't get a test done. I guess what I should have left one without the patties, but it goes against my nature ;-). Regards Tim