The Red Cloud chief., 1902-01-24
BEES TO KILL MICE.
Agricultural Department Yinds
Ally In the Philippines.
sti.s Of the Insect saiA Co Ne Poison
ous TO the Small Asinals-Wnl
he introduced I.to ~
Country.
The agricultural department at

nC ukFbCussuh ~ oVBbf shi'hs Nv
Washington is To make a determined
attack upon the American field
mouse. His determination in certain
localities has been resolved upon and
the Philippine bumblebee is to he
brought into service as the eIecu-
TONER.
This was the statement made by
Prof. G. II. Riley, of the department,
who passed through Chicago last
week en- route to San Francisco and
tho Philippines. Prof. Riley, of the
division Of entomology, will devote
n year in the Philippines TO The study
of bugs and insects OF the archipel-
ago. The drumming bird" humble
bee of the Philippines will be II of
the main objects Of his inquiry. 1t
Is planned to import'the big bee Of
the Philippines into the United
States that he may make war upon
the American field mouse. a rodent
which has caused the farmers of the
country a loss Of thousands OF dol
lars.
ut 10 m old saying among farm
ers," said Prof. Riley, reports a Chi
cago paper, that when there 10 plen-
ty Of clover there are lots OF bumble-
bees. What the farmer really means
10 that when there are lots Of bum
blebees there 10 plenty Of clover. He
might carry his logic further by say
ing that when field mice are scarce
there are plenty Of bumblebess. and
that when there are plenty Of cats
there are few field mice.
I'm order To save the clover crops
OF the country the agricultural de-
partment has the choice Of two
things, to increase the number Of
cats In the country, which will de-
stroy the field mouse. or to take
away from the rodent his supply Of
winter food. Either method II sue
cessful would result in a gain of
thousands Of dollars To the farmers.
The field mouse is very fond Of bum
blebee honey and never loses IN OPP
portunity to deprive the insect of the
rewards of his work. The honey
taken away from the bumblebee
causes him to perish in the winter
time. Hence a short clover crop for
the bumblebee is n carrier Of pollen
from one clover plant to another.
Thus e there are lots OF humble
bees clover comes to perfection. II
the field nous has destroyed the
bumbleebec there 10 no insect that
can do its work in the summe time
and the farmers lose accordingly.
This 10 not only true of clover. but
many other plants.
I'VE hold that the bumblebee 10 a
valuable member Of insect society
and that the field mouse is a worth
less scamp who likes n good dinner
but does not a to work for it.
"The Philippine bumblebee is an
entirely different insect from his
American cousin. He 10 fully an inch
nnd a half long and looks like a
has no fear Of such a small animal
rs the field mouse. He is n harmless
fellow when let alone, but his sting
Is deadly to smaller forms of ami
NAL life. He will fight for his own
with the tenacity Of a pugilist and
any INSCRIPTIONS field mouse invad-
ing his domain will have to fight for
everything he gets.
"A field ous after receiving the
sting OF a Philippine %bumblebee would
much resemble the wrecked appear
ance of some Of our college boys aft
er the Thanksgiving football game,
lie would have to lay up for repairs
1T 10 the intention of the agricul,
tural department to introduce this
bee into the United States IL climatic
conditions will permit. He will bs
sent to the warmer parts Of the
country At hrst. where he may grad
ually become hardened to the NOR,
severs climate. II 10 then hoped h,
will grow and spread until he cover
the entire country. The department!
has ito eye upon other insects in tn,
Philippines which may prove OF vslu,
to agricultural interests. There ar,
several varieties Of honey bees which
will be given . trial. A species o
tree toad, which has a deadly antip
athy for certain kinds OF citrus in
seets. will he introduced into south
ern California with the hope that |
may be useful in the determination
of the black or armored scale. whicl
has caused so great q loss to frui