The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
BUMDLEBEES AS TOPERS.
The Wistaria an Insect Tavern Where
Bees Flock for the Liquor.
The Chautauquan.

The Chautauquan.
The monotonous drone of the bumblebee
as its rapidly moving wings balance 1t In
air before the small round hole giving en-
trance to it's nursery and nest in rail or
post or Notwithstanding is a lulling sound
in spring and summer to all save the small
boy. The bumblebee IS the boys natural
enemy. 1t excites him to deeds of daring
and slaughter. for the black-head sting is
active as the needle of a sewing machine,
while the white-head's zigzag buster,
harmless though he is, is eye-blinkng and
legs stimulating
The first money 1 ever earned was by kill
ing "back-heads' at a cent Dozen The
board covering of barns and wooden stock
shelters is often badly pierced and dam
aged by the black-headed female humble
bees. The small hole made by them gives
entrance to a circular boring OF larger
diameter, from four to six inches long. 1t
runs lengthwise of the timber, and, being
close to the surface, rain finds its way in
and decay of the timber follows. In conse-
quence the farmer is often put to the ex-
pense of renewal or repairs. Hence the
value to him of dead bumblebees.
My father believed in making work pleas
ant and instructive to his boys; pulling
weeds was botanizing; picking stones off
destroying caterpillars and hurtful insects
instructive in entomology; but padding
bumblebees gave real financial reward.
have made as much as 10 cents day.
The white-headed bumblebee does not
bore or do anything else. He wears a small
square spot of white upon his forehead as
badge Of his sex. He is the gentleman of
like many other idlers, he got on sprees
and died in consequence. On and about my
house were numerous MISUNDERSTANDING,
graceful vines first introduced into this
country from China by Prof. Caspar Wis
tar, in 1918. The long purple panicles are
familiar to all lovers OF springs choicest
fancies.
One morning / heard the familiar hum
that once TO me meant wealth. 1t was
even now seductive. seized bit of
my arm was nerved for Staying. 1 traced
the sound TO a stout wiStaria twined about
a pest like monstrous snake, and spread
ing its many-branched top as a vast flower
racemes hummed several bumblebees Up
on the flowers were many more probing
TO the honey sacs with their long tongues
and gripping with desperate greediness the
me, for these insects were in various stages
of intoxication. Upon the ground were
dozens Qrom early habit reckon humble
bees by dozens) dead. dying. drunk. help
less; some waving their many legs and
buzzing as they lay-feet up-their fare
well song to life. They were all white
heads (maleS.) There was not black
head to be seen.
| watched the bacchanalisn feast in as
constituent. The wistaria was insect
grogshop; the whitehead" its chosen
patrons The tiny nectar goblets of the
seductive flowers contained their death
draughts.
In many places and often I sought and
watched the wistaria and its crowd of hum
ming jewellers. Everywhere the story was
the same-debauch. death. Strange to say
where the wistaria grew l never saw a fe-
male bumblebee. Perhaps they left their
disspated lords. Perhaps they stunned the
neighborhood OF the slums their lords fire.
quented Be that as IL may, the planting
of the wistaria will soon relieve the farmer
of the pest. But from killing the humble
bee loss may arise-the red clover will not
be so well fertilzed.