Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-28
BEES IN BATTLE.
Their Plans of attack
and Defence.
lt,NenIng POstJ

When the chill OF the autumn Gays
hll,htg the life of the leaves and flowers
i'm woods and garden, the flow of honey
is checked. and the busy bees ma theH
labors doubled. \ restless activity sel%eS
them and they fly around IN an I'M
settled condition of mind untll the 1P-
preaching cold weather drives them per
manently into their winter quarters. no
creature seems to regret the chahs' Oh
season more genuinely than the honey
hoes. and one is inspired with sympathy
for the shivering drawn-up bodies that
hover around the entrances to the hives.
or return from their long lights win
only a speck of honey in their sacs.
But this transition season Is one o.
alarm to the apiarist. for the bees. tor
mented by hunger and lack of work 10
do. get into mischief In the fall OF the
year very easily. The quietest. most
Industrious worker of tho hive may at
any moment lead a body Of organized
robbers against "A neighboring hive u
steal the stores Of honey that have been
gathered through the warm season.
mania for robbery seiZes the colonies,
and the weak stand in daily fear OF be
ing destroyed by the stronger. An extra
sentinel is placed at the entrance OF each
hive, and the strictest watch Is Kept
for all intruders. ON some quiet autumn
day. when the buCkwheat blossoms are
slowly closing their petals for the last
time the restless bees Of one large hive
may be seen flying around in great ac-
tiYity, reconnoitering the heid tor an al
tack upon some weaker colony. Standing
in front OF the hive that has been singled
out for the premeditatel assault. a most
interesting sight may be- observed \
Ia hoe ftrh hn IL
and alights upon the board in front of the
entrance to the hive one OF the two or
three bees standing guard at the entrance
advances toward the newcomer and eX-
tends its tongue. The ntruding bee must
give the countersign by passing some of
its honey from its sac. which sample II
found satisfactory. will admit II 10 the
hive. IL the honey Is not right. or II
the bee refuses to offer a sample. the
sentries Immediately pounce upon the in
truder and XIII IT,
When the bee Is simply a lonely crea-
ture trying TO effect an entrance into some
warm hive the work OF killing il and
throwing the carcass over the side OF
the board Is brief. bur if the intruder
is the forerunner Of an attack by = large
colony very different result follows.
While the sentries are trying 10 XIII the
bee. the rest OF the attacking party will
try 10 force an entrance into another
part OF the hive. or into the unprotected
entrance in front. The weak points OF the
hive have been noted by the bees before
band. and the whole attack is arranged.
eveh TO the smallest detail ON the first
signs OF warfare the whole colony inside
rush 10 the defence. and general alarm
H. given.
When a war between two colonies Is
thus precipitated. the bees will pay no at
tention 10 human intruder. and one
may stand close To the hive and watch
the proceedings. The attacking colony
has one great object in view. and that is
to get inside Of the hive. while the home
bees work strenuOusly to keep them out.
The former generally place themselves
upon the defensive. and the latter on
the offensive. Ths tactics of the bees in
battle are very simple. They 90 upon the
plan Of sending two bees To kin one
When two OF the home bees fall upon the
first intruder the latter gathers up its
abdomen in small a space as possible.
and tries TO avoid being stung. Mean
while he forces himself gradually into the
hive 10 make room for other intruders.
The body OF the bee is invulnerabie only
at its joints. and the two home defenders
collar him. and b. following him around
through various contortions sometimes
find an unprotected spot. The Intruder
Is rapidly stung to death. and the two
warriors turn 10 attack another enemy In
the hive.
The size OF the colony does not always
determine the results OF such a battJe
There are defensive arrangements OF the
bees which often enable an inferior
force 10 keep twice their number outside.
The defences are SO arranged that the
entrance Is narrowed down TO a small
point inside, and at this place the best
warriors OF the colony are stationed
AS the intruders enter they are seized
one by one. and generally killed In a
properly guarded hive II IL difficult for
a strong colony 10 force an entrance
unless there is some weak point Some
times the attack Is made 40 suddenly
that great many bees get inside before
the guard are called TO their stations.
II the attacking party prove successful
and the bees get inside OF the hive. they
then suddenly assume the offensive. and
fall upon the home bees and sting them
10 death. The slaughter OF the inhabl-
tants becomes general. and the bodies OF
the dead are hauled out and thrown
upon the ground.
But at this point OF the conflict the
human side OF the bees IL manifested
Some Of the attacked Marty will sud