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SUMMARYColonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera, tested for uncapping and removal of dead brood were classified as resistant or susceptible on the basis of good or poor hygienic behavior, respectively. Colonies determined to be the most resistant or most susceptible were sprayed with suspensions of Ascosphaera apis on the brood and the bees around the brood on alternating days for 2 months. Chalkbrood mummies were collected from dead bee traps placed on the colonies, from landing boards, and from bottom boards. Mummies in uncapped, perforated, and abnormal-appearing comb cells were also counted. At the end of the experiment, brood, bees, and various hive products were examined for growth of A. apis.Statistical analyses to evaluate the efficiency of removal of the mummies from the colonies classified as resistant or susceptible revealed so much variation from colony to colony and week to week that few significant differences were found between the two groups. However, resistant colonies had higher ratios of efficiency of removal, regardless of how the data were analyzed.These results indicated that the bees can detect the diseased larvae before we can. Since only 75 % of the mummies were found in dead bee traps, bottom boards as well as dead bee traps must be examined to make accurate counts of mummy removal.Cultural studies revealed that A. apis contaminates more diverse substrates and survives better in bees and hive products from colonies that exhibit poor hygienic behavior. Therefore, good hygienic behavior of bees aids in control of chalkbrood disease by increased removal of dead or diseased brood and also possibly by increased removal or decreased survival of the pathogen.

SUMMARYOne-hundred and thirteen yeasts belonging to seven genera were isolated from almond (Prunus communis) pollen from the flower, from pollen pellets from traps placed on bee (Apis mellifera) hives in the orchard, and from pollen stored in comb cells of the hive (bee bread) for one, three, and six weeks. Torulopsis magnoliae was the most common isolate and was found in all pollen samples except pollen from the flower. Thus, the bees may have added it to the pollen. The number of isolates and species decreased with time and storage. In general, most of the yeast species from pollen from the flower and the trap were not found in bee bread. Also, yeast isolates from pollen from the flower and the trap fermented more sugars and assimilated more carbon compounds than those from bee bread.

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