Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-15
BEES HIDING PLACES
STRANGE PLACES sWARMs SEEK
AS HOMES IN CALIFORNIA.
Abandon Their Hives and Take Up
Their Abode in Steeples and
Attics-
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
California bees are record breakers for
choosing queer hiding places. In various
southern California towns the persistent
little honey makers have invaded bank
blocks. churches, stores, private dwellings,
school houses and tamale stands to such
an extent that business and religion edu-
cation and personal comfort have been
| sadly fnterfered with.
Fullerton, an enterprising agricultural
community. has been the scene of their
| especial activities and the inhabitants of
| the charming town have had exciting times
| trying to keep the intrusive pests out OF
their homes and places of business. For
ten years the busy little workers have been
packing their stores of honey close under
the roof of the Fullerton Bank and every
effort that has been made to rid the build
ing of them has been Intellectual. During
their winged pilgrimages they frequently
invaded the banking room. where they set
employees and customers In such panic
that there was tearing of hair. groaning
and undignified jumping about. few
weeks ago a man was found who gladly
agreed to rout the torments, with the I'M
Outstanding that his remuneratio for the
JOB was to be the honey that had been
accommodating among the rafters for many
years. With the assistance of a number of
men, all OF whom were screened with mos
quito and wire netting, he captured over
two tons of the finest orange honey. He
sold the cargo of sweets for cents
pound. pocketed the good, hard cash. then
whistled defiantly when censured because
he left the bees to work at the same old
stand
Invade Dwelling.
In one instance a swarm tried to take
possession Of a living room in private
house. The window had been left open,
and the unlimited guests hocked In as
merriy as If they had received invitations
to an lat home" They were finally cap
tured and persuaded to transfer their fes-
tivities to a dry goods box. One of the
largest swarms of bees ever seen in this
vicinity recently tried to bolt their way
into several business houses, but, being
baked in their intentions by finding doors
shut and windows down, they made a bee
line for less aristocratic quarters-a Mexi-
can vender's tamale stand-where they at
tempted to establish a permanent camp,
much to the CONSERVATION Of the swarthy
merchant.
For a number of years the little Episco-
pal church at San Gabriel. town which
has become famous because OF its historic
| mission, was infested by bees, and their
| effect on religion and the development Of
Christianity was demoralzing in the ex-
IRENE. In the summer time it was neces-
sary to keep the windows open. and as
there was no screens investigating bees
would temporarily suspend operations in
their storehouses among the rafters and
join the congregation. The following anus
ing story is told in connection with this
church:
Bees at Church.
One time during an especially impressive
service the minister was sending up SOL
emn prayer Of thanksgiving. He suddenly
struck his eyebrow a resounding whack,
while his voice and his enthusiasm rose
vigorously. thrilling the kneeling devotion
ais with the wildly spoken words, 20, Lord
Gosh" A drowsy, half-deaf old patri-
arch in the front row responded with a loud
Amen" while a little bee, suffering the
agones of death, writhed on page of the
open Bible. Because of the bees many
humorous incidents occurred in this pic
! turesque little meeting house. Many times
troop of the little torments, with all their
artillery set for action, would swoop down
on the worshiperS and transform piety into
unpiouS action. An enormous amount Of
honey was removed from one of the gable
attics of this church, and after repeated at
tempts the bees were finally got rid OF.
California bees sometimes go to school,
and then there is trouble for teachers and
pupils. AS the bees are unruly and uu-
manag eabe and erse to educational dis
cipline. the effect on the pupils is demoral-
iZing.
Moving Time.
Bees that have become prejudiced against
life in the conventional apiary like best to
hide away in low, dark attics, where they
can fasten their honeyed tapestry to the
rafters crowd 1t between the weather
boarding and the plastering. Sometimes
the weight of honey on the rafters becomes
so great that it drops and crashes through
the ceilings. The favorite Swarming time
of bees is in the latter part of spring when
all the honey producing plants in
bloom and conditions are most favorable
for the establishment of new quarters. The
methods employed by the bees for selecting
new home are mcthodical and clever in
the extreme. A detachment is sent out to
make Investigations. They return to the
hive and report. Then all is bustling prep
aration, for each bee that joins the winged
caravan must gorge himself with honey, SO
he will have enough to last him until he Is
comfortably settled in the new home and
ready to go to work in earnest. Each bee
must also carry along a supply of wax for
making comb.
The greatest Difference Is extended to the
queen bee by her subjects and no. move is
made until She is ready Queen bees are
larger and heavier than the worker bees
and 1t Is impossible for them to go far with
out getting tired, as they are unaccustomed
to flying. Consequently numerous rests
mus. be taken while on the way. When the
queen becomes exhausted she usually lights
on the limb Of a tree to rest and all her
subjects hang about her and to one another
until they form huge, black, buzzing ball.
that threatens disaster to anything that
tries to modest 1t. Sometimes they remain
on the branch for several hours, but usually
the time for "refreshment'' is about ten
minutes. When the queen Is rested she
gives the signal and off they go.