BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
After the bees have died in a hive, it should never be left exposed to robbers and months, but should be carried indoors at once, or carefully closed up. If you have not sufficient bees either by artificial or natural swarming to use the combs before warm weather, keep careful watch over them, for a great amount of mischief may be done in a very few days. We once removed some combs, heavy with honey, in August, and, thinking no worms would get into them so late, we delayed looking at them. A month later honey begun to run out on the floor; and upon attempting to lift out a comb it was found impossible to do so. When all were lifted up at once,n mass of webs nearly as large as one's head was found, in place of honey and combs. So much for not keeping a careful watch over such property.
The practice in late years is to use bubble of carbon--the same drug that is spoken of under the head of _Ants_. The combs to be treated are placed in a tool-box or small room. A pint or a quart of the liquid, depending on the size of the inclusive, is then placed in an open vessel _above_ the combs. The stuff is very volatile and evaporates quite rapidly; and the fumes, being heavier than air, settle down, passing around and through the combs.
One should be very careful in handling this drug lest he inhale the fumes of it, although a few breaths would probably cause no harm except a little dizziness. Every thing being in readiness, pour out the liquid in the right place, and shut up the enclosure. On account of the fearfully explosive nature of bisulphide of carbon, it is advisable to use a large box or cupboard outdoors. One can, of course, use it in a building or room; but first be sure there is no lighted fire, a lamp, nor any thing that might ignite explosive gas.
now to keep empty cows.
When combs are left in spring, after the death of the bees in a hive, there is no safer place to put them than in the care of a good strong colony. Brush off the dead bees and put the combs in a clean hive on the stand of a strong colony, and then place the colony over this hive of empty combs, so that they will be obliged to pass through the hive of combs to go in or out. In other words, give the bees no entrance except that of the lower hive, allowing free communication between the two. The combs will then be kept free from worms and mold, with no care whatever on your part, except to keep the entrance so small for two or three days at first that robbers will not trouble.
After the weather has become warm, three or four stories of empty combs may be piled over a queen-excluder on top of a hive containing a colony; then a frame of brood in the upper story will make sure that the bees traverse all the combs.
bee-tooth in high altitudes.
In Colorado, at least in the region of Denver, where the elevation is fully a mile above the level of the sea, the ordinary climates, a fact which is probably accounted for by the wax-moths are unknown. The great elevation seems to be more than they can stand. There is, however, a very small wax-worm, but it is not the same that ordinarily troubles bee-keepers.
The Government Entomologist for New South Wales, Australia, Mr. Sidney Olliff, wrote an article on the subject of bee-moths for the New South Wales _Agrieultural Gazette_. There is so much of value in it, especially as it describes the same pest we have here, that we have decided to reproduce it in these columns. The illustration accompanying it is especially accurate.
The bee-moths, or bees wax-moths, of which there are two distinct kinds commonly found in Australia are so well known, and have been so frequently figured and described, that it will not be necessary to give very detailed or technical descriptions of them here. A considerable number of injuries have been received during the past few years regarding these destructive moths, chiefly from amateur bee-keepers; and it may, therefore, be useful to publish a few notes concerning the habits and seasonal appearance of these insects in Australia, more especially as I am able to add some information regarding remedial and preventive measures for the suppression of the pests, which have been found satisfactory by experienced bee-keepers. The larger of the bees wax-moths-properly known as _Galeria mellonella_, Linn, but sometimes called by the name _Galeria cereana_, Fabr.-appears to be by far the more destructive of the two insects. It is a very wide-ly distributed species, being found throughout Europe and North America, in India, and even in the cold regions of Northern Siberia; indeed, it appears to have a range that is co-extensive with that of the live-bee itself. In warm countries it is much more abundant, and therefore destructive, than in temperate or cold regions.
The bees-moths, or bees wax-moths, of which there are two distinct kinds commonly found in Australia are so well known, and have been so frequently figured and described, that it will not be necessary to give very detailed or technical descriptions of them here. A considerable number of injuries have been received during the past few years regarding these destructive moths, chiefly from amateur bee-keepers; and it may, therefore, be useful to publish a few notes concerning the habits and seasonal appearance of these insects in Australia, more especially as I am able to add some information regarding remedial and preventive measures for the suppression of the pests, which have been found satisfactory by experienced bee-keepers. The larger of the bees wax-moths-properly known as _Galeria mellonella_, Linn, but sometimes called by the name _Galeria cereana_, Fabr.-appears to be by far the more destructive of the two insects. It is a very wide-ly distributed species, being found throughout Europe and North America, in India, and even in the cold regions of Northern Siberia; indeed, it appears to have a range that is co-extensive with that of the live-bee itself. In warm countries it is much more abundant, and therefore destructive, than in temperate or cold regions.
The second species of beesvax-moth is known as _Achrova grissella_, Fabr., the lesser beesvax-moth, or honey-moth, etc. Although not nearly so destructive as the larger kind, it does considerable damage in old and neglected hives. The moth is much smaller than _Galleria mellourella_, with which, by the way, 1 have found it associated in the same hive on more than one occasion. It is of a dead gray color, and has a yellow head. This species is not nearly so particular in choosing its food as the former kind (_G. mellourella_) and may frequently be found feeding on the _debris_ which commonly collects on the bottom of a neglected hive.
It is a well-known fact, that beesvax-moths do not attack the Italian (Ligurian) bec to any serious extent, which, indeed, are rarely attacked at all. It is the ordinary black or hive that suffers so greatly.
In conclusion I would express my thanks, among other kind correspondents, to Dr, Dagnell Clark, the Rev. John Ayling, and Messrs, Abram & Riddle, who have been kind enough to forward to the Department specimens or information.
So far as I am aware, very few recognizable figures of the bee-moths have been published; hence the plate attached, from the pencil of Mr, K. M. Grosse, will doubtless prove very acceptable. With the exception of an excellent wood-cut in Dr, Taschenberg's "be Insecten" (Brehm's Thierleben, Vol. IX., page IX) of the larger species, I have not been able to find a figure showing the stages or habits of these moths.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE.
RESWAX-MOTRIS.
Fig. 1.--Lars or caterpillar of Larger beesvax-moth (_Galleria mellourella_, Linn.), side view (much enlarged).
Fig. 3\(-\)Cocoon of same, extracted from bee-comb (charged).
Fig. 4.--Larger beesvax -moth (_Galleria mellourella_, Linn.), male (much enlarged).
Fig. 5.--Rrowing of same, female.
Fig. 6.--Lars or caterpillar of Lesser beesvax-moth (_debris_, Fabr.), side view (much enlarged).
Fig. 7.--Fupa or Chrysalis of same (much enlarged).
Fig. 8.--Lesser beesvax -moth (_debris_, Fabr.), (much enlarged).
In the background above, a comb from a frame hive is represented, showing brood-comb tunneled by the larvae of the larger beesvax-moth (_Galleria mellourella_, Linn.).
The natural sizes of the insects are indicated by hair-line.
**BEE PARALYSIS.** See Diseases of Bees.
**BEE-SPACES.** This term is applied to spaces left by the bees, both between combs they build and between the parts of the hive and the combs. It varies all the way from \( ilde{s}_{6}\) to \( ilde{\star}\); but \( ilde{s}_{6}\) is considered the correct average. But in hive-construction it has been found that a space of \( ilde{\star}\) inch will be more free from the building of bits of comb and the depositing of propolisis than a little wider spacing. Any less space than \( ilde{s}_{6}\) will be plugged up with propolisis and wax.
Father Langstroh, in the great invention which he gave to the world--the first _practical_ movable frame -- made the discovery that bees recognize and protect passageways which we now call bee-spaces. Taking advantage of this fact he made a frame for holding comb bee-spaced all around. All who preceded him had failed to grasp the fact that bees would leave such spaces unfilled with wax or propolisis. Before Langstroh's time it was necessary to pull out frames stuck fast to the hives with propolisis, or tear or cut loose the combs with a thin-bladed knife, before they could be removed for the purpose of inspection.
By bringing out his bee-spaced frame the "father of modern apiculture" solved, with one great master-stroke, a problem that had been puzzling the minds of bee-keepers for centuries.
In later years, manufacturers of hives have been compelled to recognize this great principle, that there are certain parts inside hives that must be bee-spaced from every other part or else they will be stuck or glued together in a way that will make them practically inseparable. For example, the bottoms of supers containing the sections must be \( ilde{\star}\) inch above the tops of the brood-frames in the lower part of the hive. The sections themselves must be held a bee-space away from the separators or fences. It has come to be a general practice to put the bee-space in the bottom-board, leaving the bottoms of the frames in the brood-nest nearly flush with the bottom of the hive. This makes it necessary to have the sides and ends of the hive project above the general level of the frames about \( ilde{\star}\) inch. In the same way the supers have a bee-space on top but not on the bottom. If a super be removed, and a hive-cover be put in its place, there will still be a space between the cover and the brood-frames.
**BES.** Throughout this work we deal particularly with Italians, the common black bees of this country, and the crosses between the two, because they are used almost exclusively by bee-keepers. The crosses are often incorrectly denominated " hybrids;" but as that name has been generally adopted, we retain it. For particulars regarding these bees the reader is referred to Hybrids, which see. The Italians are spoken of specifically, also, under the heading of Italians, elsewhere in this work.
black or german bees.
Black bees are so common in nearly every vicinity that very little description is necessary. As the name indicates, they are black. One variety in the South is of a brownish black ; another distinctly black, and, if any thing, a trifle smaller.
Comparing the Germans with the Italians, they are more inclined to rob, are not as good workers, but are equal when nectar is abundant, or when there is dark honey like that from buckwheat to be gathered. They are much more nervous ; and when a hive of them is opened they run like a flock of sheep from one corner of the hive to another, boiling over in confusion, hanging in clusters from one corner of the frame as it is held up, and finally falling off in bunches to the ground, where they continue a wild scramble in every direction, probably crawling up one's trousers-leg, if the opportunity offers. Their queries are much harder to find, the bees are not so gentle, and, worse than all, they have a disagreeable fashion of following the apiarist about from hive to hive in a most tantalizing way. This habit of poising on the wing in a threatening manner before one's eyes is extremely annoying, and some bees will keep it up for a day at a time unless killed. We generally make very short work by smashing then between the palms of our hands, or putting them to death with little paddles we keep near. It is useless to strike at individual bees while they are in the air, for one is much more liable to miss than to hit them. Our practice is to take two sticks, one in each hand, and work them back and forth in front of our face very rapidly, just about as one would operate a fan on a hot day. This rapid movement excites longer in the bees, with the result that they make a dive for the whirling sticks ; and in less time than it takes to tell it, one by one they get their heads rapped, and go down into the grass.
Comb honey from the blacks is a little whiter, if any thing, than that made by pure Italians, because the capping is raised up, leaving a slight air-gap between it and the surface of the honey in the cell. But this difference in the whiteness of capping is so very slight as compared with that on comb honey made by the 1 Italians that it really cuts as a 1000 square.
no figure in the market. The blacks are also much easier to shake off the combs than pure Italians, which can hardly be shaken off, that some prefer blacks or hybrids, when extracting, for that reason alone.
carniolans.
The Carniolans, evidently a variety of black bees, which they very much resemble, were introduced into this country in 1884, or thereabout. They are said to be very gentle; but the few colonies we have tried are no more so than average Italians, and in one case they were more vindictive than the Cyprians. As stated, they resemble blacks, and might easily be mistaken for them ; but there is a difference. They are larger, and their abdomens are of a more bluish cast, the fuzzy rings being very distinct. They are gentler, as a rule, and do not, like the blacks, boil over in confusion when the hive is opened, although one of our Carniolan colonies did this very thing. They have not the laxity of character of the Italians--colonies of the same race differing quite widely. The general verdict is, that they are excessive swarmers, and this trait alone makes them very undesirable. Their close resemblance to black bees makes it difficult to detect the crosses of the two races. This faet, coupled with their great swarming propensity, will largely prevent their meeting with general favor.
But Carnolans have one good trait in their favor, and that is, they deposit as little propolis as any bees ever known. Some colonies that we had, actually deposited almost none. In the production of comb honey this is quite an important item.
cauxasians.
This is a race that looks very much like Carnolans and the common black bee of this country, but it resembles the latter more than the former. So close is the general resemblance that even experts in some cases have been unable to distinguish them. But there is a vast difference in their general habits and temperament.
The claim has been made that Caucasians are the gentlest bees known; and this claim, in part at least, has been established, although they are no more so than some good strains of pure Italians. Bee-men are not agreed, however, as to their honey-gathering qualities. Some consider them very inferior, while others believe they are equal to any race in this respect. All admit that they are bad proplizers, sticking large chunks of gum in all parts of the hive--a trait that be comes more manifest as cold weather comes on. In this one respect they differ materially from Carnilians.
About the most serious objection that can be urged against them (and the same may be said of Carnilians) is very strong resemblance to the common blacks. It will be simply impossible to detect their crosses; and unscrupulous dealers might send out such crosses, or even black bees, and palm them off as Canasians. But the deception could not continue long, as Carnilians behave very differently on the combs. There is also a train of yellow Caucasians ; but these give have never tested, and therefore are unable to give any opinion as to their merits.
I thank these.
The black strain of these bees looks very much like the black Caucasians ; and their general characteristics, so far as we have
been able to observe, are about the same also. A yellow variety of the same bees is also reported.
TUNISANS.
This black race, natives of North Africa, are sonetines called "Punies." They have been tested to some extent in this country, but so far have not been able to establish any claim in their favor that would entitle them to consideration on the part of American bee-keepers. They are cross, and so inclined to smear everything with a red bee glue that they are entirely unsulted for the production of comb honey. They are no better honey-gatherers than gentler races; and the fact that they do not excel in any way, and are so far surpassed by other bees in desirable qualities, should bar them from introduction into this country.
EGyptians.
The Egyptian bee is reputed the most beautiful species of _Alpha._ It has been named _Libisfusita_ by entomologists; has been cultivated for thousands of years by the Egyptian, and was probably the first species reduced by mankind to domestic purposes.
In the time of the ancient historian Ilerodotus, apiaries were transported up and down the Nile so as to keep pace with the seasons in Upper and Lower Egypt. This practice is continued at the present day to a limited extent. Inserptions on tomls show the practice in use 4000 years ago, at least, and the honey-bee highly reveenced by the people of that age.
The Egyptian bee is so much smaller than the Italian that the two do not hybridize very well; on the contrary, the queen, if compelled to mate with a European drone, frequently dies soon after fertilization. It is probably, however, the mother-species of the Cyprian, Holy-Land, and Grecian bees.
Albinos are either "sports" from Itulins, or, what is more generally the case, a cross between Holy-Lands and Italians. After testing them in our own apiary we find them little different from common Italians. The fringe, or down, that appears on the rings of the abdomen of young bees is a trifle whiter than usual, yet no one would observe it unless attention were called to it. The queens are very yellow, while the workers, as honey-gatherers, are decidedly inferior, even in the second generation; and when we select light-colored bees or queens for several successive generations, unless careful we develop only a worker progeny lacking ability as honey-gatherers and endurance. By selection we can get almost anything we want, and that quite speedily with bees; for we can produce several generations in a single season if need be.
eastern races of bees.
Cyprians. Holy-Lands, or Syrians, are mentioned later under the head of Italians. Of other Eastern races I can do no better than to quote what Mr. Frank Benton, formerly Apieultural Expert of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, has said of them in a special bulletin issued by the Department, entitled " Honey-bee," containing 118 pages. Mr. Benton spent some months in the jungles of India, in search of new bees. For this reason, if for no other, he is able to give us authoritative information. From the bulletin above mentioned we make the following extracts:
THE common fast-indian honey-bee.
(_Apis Indica_, Fab.)
The common bee of Southern Asia is kept in very limited numbers and with a small degree of profit in earnesten jars and sections of hollow trees in portions of the British and Dutch East Indies. They are also found wild, and build when in this state in hollow trees and in rock-clefts. Their combs are composed of hexagonal wax cells, and are arranged parallel to
each other like those of _A. mellifera_, but the worker brood-cells are smaller than those of our ordinary bees, showing 36 to the square inch of surface instead of 2); while the comb where worker-broad is reared, instead of having, like that of _A. mellifera_, a thickness of seven-eighths inch, is but five-eighths inch thick. (Fig 1).
The workers.- The bodies of these, three-eighths inch long when empty, measure about one-half inch when dilated with honey. The thorax is covered with brownish hair, and the shield or crescent between the wings is large and yellow. The abdomen is yellow underneath. Above it presents a ringed appearance of the same kind of honey and the other part of each segment being orange yellow, while the posterior part shows bands of brown of greater or less width, and covered with whitish-brown hairs; tip black. They are inhible on foot and on the wing, and active gathers.
The queens.-The queens are large in proportion to their workers, and are quite prolific; color, leather or dark copper. The drone.-These are only slightly larger than the workers; color, a jet-like blue-black, without yellow, their strong wings showing changing blues like those of warsps.
Manipulations with colonies of these bees are easy to perform if smoke be used; and, though they are more excitable than our common hive-bees, this peculiarity does not induce excessive stinging, but seems rather to proceed from fear. The sting is also less severe.
Under the rude methods thus far employed in the management of this bee no great yields of honey are obtained, some 10 or 12 pounds having been the most reported from a single hive. It is quite probable these little bees would yield more if imported into this country, since they could no doubt visit many small flowers not frequented by the hive-bees we now have, and whose nectar is, therefore, wasted; but very likely they might not withstand the severe writers of the North unless furnished with such extra protection as would be afforded by quite warm cellars or special repositories.
Here is something exceedingly interesting regarding the smallest honey-bees in the world. Just take a look at the size of the cells as shown in the figure, natural size, and then compare them in your mind's eye with comb in your own apiary. Well, here is what Mr. Benton has to say :
THE tiny east-indian honey-bee.
(_Apis Inforea_, Fab.)
This bee, also a native of East India, is the smallest known species of the genus. It builds in the open air, attaching a single comb to a style of a shrub, or small tree. This comb is only about the size of a man's hand, and is exceedingly delicate, there being on each
## Bess.
side 100 worker-cells to the square inch of surface (Figs. 2 and 3). The workers' more slender than house-flies, though longer-lodied, are blue-black in color, with the anterior third of the abdomen bright
There are a few in this country who believe the introduction of the giant bees here would result disastrosly to the business; that, as the English sparrow has driven out some of our American song birds, so _\(\Delta pis\) domestic_ might drive out the Italians and black bees by taking the nectar that would otherwise go to _\(\Delta pis\) mellificor_, and thus indirectly rob the bee-keeper. It is also stated that _Apis dorsuta_ could not be domesticated, but would run wild all over the country; but from all the information we can gather we have no fear of any of these things. The facts prove that they have not run out _\(\Delta pis\) Indicor_, _Apis dorsua_, and other Eastern bees in their own habitats; furthermore, it is doubtful whether they would be able to stand our changing climate, even in the South; for it must be understood that India and the Philippines have a much warmer climate than our Southern States.
_How BESS GROW._
Having devoted so much space to the different races of bees, it is now in order to discuss _how_ they grow.
During warm weather, while bees are gathering honey, open your hive about noon, and put in the center a frame containing a sheet of foundation; examine it every morning, noon, and evening, until you can see eggs in the cells. By inserting it between two combs already containing brood you will very likely find eggs in the cells the next day.