THE USE OF GAMMA RADIATION FROM COBALT-60 IN THE CONTROL OF DISEASES OF THE HONEYBEE AND THE STERILIZATION OF HONEY

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Abstract
Honeycomb and honey heavily contaminated with spores of Bacillus larvae (agent of American foulbrood disease of honeybee larvae) were exposed to gamma radiation from cobalt-60. Sterility was achieved by a dose of 1.5 × 106 to 2.0 × 106 rads. Sugar-tolerant yeasts in honey were effectively destroyed by a dose of 1 × 106 rads whereas cysts of Nosetna apis (agent of nosema disease of adult bees) were inactivated by a dose of 0.2 × 106 rads. The economic feasibility of using gamma radiation to sterilize honeycomb, honey, wax, supers, package cages, and related beekeeping equipment is discussed.